We went out for breakfast yesterday and I took quite a few shots in the bright morning sunshine, welcome after some rainy, grey days. This little tableau caught my eye.
My title suddenly reminded me of this poem:
NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING
"Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he’s dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning."
ack: Stevie Smith
I did not know until I searched for the poem online that Stevie Smith was a woman: Florence Margaret 'Stevie' Smith. I was going to write that her poem, seemingly like a nursery rhyme, has philosophical undertones and then I read in her biography that she had a 'volatile attachment' to the Church of England and that death, her "gentle friend," was perhaps her most popular subject. She was inspired by theology and also the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
All my kids and their friends ( there were 8 of them in total ) grew up crab catching on their shared holidays in Swanage. As adults with their own children they return there together every year and do this with them. I love to see this
There is much to that poem.....I think the poor woman thought of death too much! I remember doing exactly this on Mallaig Pier, crabbing with one of those cross fishing lines you dangled down......brings back lovely memories,
Maybe Annabelle likes this?! Hope all is well with you, Claire.
She does love rock pools. Missing her this week she is on holiday with the parents.
I'm always happy when a photo of mine brings back happy memories.
@pennystot @happypat @denisef58 @sgtpepper @wendyfrost