Nothing to Report

Nothing to report on the island tonight
The wind is down the sky where it’s supposed to be
I keep asking myself where I began looking down the sand
Toward Castle Island, which is not an island at all.

I have lived here almost twenty years
Waiting for something to happen.
Nothing happens among the swimmers and the jelly fish,
The beer cans and the crabs, lost,
Trying to find their way back to the sea between
The cracked sea shells and broken sea weed.

I forgot my tricycle one year
And nobody returned it.
I came back down here from the house
Day after day, thinking it would show up.
But it was lost, like me.

For many reasons, it was a delight to awaken on a Saturday morning and find this on the board, Peter. I sat down to read after checking the headlines both on the local newspaper and yahoo...learning of the tragic death of the young Olympic athlete.

I really like the laid back feeling this gives off and the simple observations that I think many of us can relate to. To me, it relays the types of thoughts that go through my mind when on vacation or when making a conscious effort to clear my head of the details of everyday life by taking a walk along the beach. I find it to be consistent, solid both in voice and context. I also like that the title does not throw me off or lead me to think this poem is about anything other than what appears on the page.

On a personal level, two things jumped out at me. I found myself saying, wow...it's been twenty years you've been there! I had to chuckle at my reaction because I've only been on the forum around five of those, yet it felt as though I knew you when you moved and it seemed like it was only yesterday. The other thing is your mention of Castle Island not being an Island at all. I just learned of there being a Merritt Island in Florida that I never knew existed...and it is, indeed, an island. The lyrics, I am a rock...I am an island also came into my mind which is neither here nor there, but just thought I'd mention it.

To make a long story short, Peter, I really enjoyed this piece.

Mary

A good read Peter, especially the second stanza.

Les

Thank you both for visiting and commenting, Mary and Les. I've not been allowed to log on to eMule by eMule for a couple days.

Peter