A Day at the Beach

Delightful dolphins dabbling

In seashells and sand,

On crested waves and crashing currents;

Building sand castles, dreams

And make believe schemes.

But most of all,

Building bridges that cover

Childish jealousies.

Delightful dolphins

Intertwined, independent,

Siblings yet friends.

One for all and all for one on this

Day of adventure;

Glimpses of Glory

Playing with the Wind,

Believing they're free.

Memories photographed in my mind.

I collect them all;

Like seashells I carry

Them back

Cushioning them in my love.

They are my treasures to cherish

In the winter months to come.

Yes, I will remember

The dance of the dolphins

And their gift of joy.

Comments: 8

dina l. Aug 12, 2006, 6:30pm EDT

last weekend my husband took my kids out on the boat and a pod of dolfins followed them all the way out to the sand dunes. They had the best time.

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Cathryn flowers Ritchie Aug 12, 2006, 6:42pm EDT

do you realize the 'dolphins' i'm referering to is my children. i just presented this at a writer's group this morning and a couple folks did not get that there were no dolphins, just my 4 children.

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Clare Stella Aug 13, 2006, 12:16am EDT

I understood that the dolphins were your children. I like how you write that you will be storing up these wonderful summer memories for when winter comes.

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Cathryn flowers Ritchie Aug 13, 2006, 12:55am EDT

i wrote this in 98 when my kids were 16-10, now the 4 of them are almost all grown...that winter has begun. special memories.

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Marinela Kotsina Aug 13, 2006, 1:36am EDT

kids are like dolphins and viceversa; you put it into words so beautifully...
thank you

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Doug G. Aug 13, 2006, 5:37am EDT

It's not clear who the dolphins are until reading almost the whole poem. I think it would be better to clarify at the beginning, because it's disruptive to the flow to be contemplating why dolphins in the first stanza are beaching themselves on the sand to look at seashells -- makes it seem like the dolphins are having a problem, but the intention is to keep it graceful, and dolphins on the sand are not graceful until it is shown that they are humans as metaphorical dolphins in later stanzas but not in the first stanza as given at first reading. Here's one example:

On crested waves and crashing currents
treasured children, delightful dolphins
dabble In seashells and sand,
building sand castles, dreams
And make believe schemes.
But most of all, they build
bridges that cover
childish jealousies.

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Cathryn flowers Ritchie Aug 13, 2006, 6:46pm EDT

I will keep this in mind as it does fit with some other criticisms about the dolpphin identity. BUT OFTEN I have to reread poems that turn at the end and show me the true meaning of the words. Haven't decided whether I want to make it easier, clearer or make my readers work a little bit. any others agree with me or doug. i am interested in your input.

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Cathryn flowers Ritchie Aug 14, 2006, 12:08pm EDT

My husband said,'i've never seen dophins building sand castles'...clues are in first stanza.

i think poems often should be enjoyed as they ebb and flow and then read again to get their inner meaning.

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A Day at the Beach

Comments: 8

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