If Tsunami Came Rising

As an old man I met a young girl who loved the ocean more.

She spoke in rapture, longed for danger, and let waves wash away her heart, exposed; winter storm along the desolate shore.

Once captured by sea, she could not shake its spell. Her fever burned, contagious down her back, seaweed green and glistening in the long night rain.

I fell in love with her devotion, gasping for breath along the coast. Cold waters, Pacific Northwest, blue numb skin, struggling against crushing waves…

Until she washed ashore beneath soft sand and beach fire, tucked under night stars, her soul strung about, uprooted limbs in the mist.

And I was inspired, hopeful if tsunami came rising, desperate and seeking higher ground, I would run straight for it, arms outstretched, howling into the wind…

Like that young girl, who loved the ocean more.

Celaine Charles

Learn by heart: tap a gap

As an old man I met a girl
who loved the more.
Open the trainer

Keep going on the web or in the app.

Describe a feeling — we’ll find a poem

Learn Poems app

Try the Learn Poems app

Everything from the website trainer, and more: new exercises, voice recording and sharing, reminders, quick review.