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Lost and Found

"Lost-ish"

By Cathy holmesPublished 12 months ago Updated 5 months ago 1 min read
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It feels like I can see forever,

yet my mind’s eye can’t sail

past the horizon;

stuck on that imaginary line

where what’s to come meets what has been,

where things are to be settled,

people to be seen,

obligations to be fulfilled.

My intentions are as vast as the ocean

but my vessel is an ancient rowboat,

and the directions I’m given steer me

straight into the cliffs along the bay.

*

Directions it seems I’ve given myself.

BREATHE.

Soak in the salt air.

Let my thoughts dance

to the song of the seabird.

*

Thinking of nothing yet wanting

to let everything go.

Shaking ideas and obligations from my mind,

letting them fly.

Holding tight to those I catch

in the net of my soul,

while the unnecessary splash into the sea

to be pulverized by the rolling waves

beating on the rocks below

*

I hear a voice call my name

*

It jolts me, and I realize

that I’ve lost time but gained space,

that I’ve seen truth

but have been blind to the lies front of me,

that I care for little

but am in want of more.

*

Lost

in the echo of the rolling waves

Found

in the mournful cries of seabirds

*

Loving that I can feel the silence.

Hating the emptiness it brings.

Holding on to the whole of nothing.

Watching shards of everything slip away

*

But I tell myself that I’m okay.

*

Sated in the reality of at once

being lost

in serenity

and found

in chaos.

-----

fact or fictionFree Versesurreal poetry

About the Creator

Cathy holmes

Canadian family girl with a recently discovered love for writing. Other loves include animals and sports.

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Comments (30)

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  • Marilyn Glover11 months ago

    Beautiful work, Cathy, and congratulations on placing in Gabriel's challenge. Your poem encourages the reader to allow a moment for pause. Personally, a timely piece. Thank you!

  • Rachel Deeming11 months ago

    That idea of the sea and horizon really captures that lost-ish feeling, I think.

  • Alyssa Musso11 months ago

    So beautiful and relatable, Cathy! Congrats on placing in Gabriel's challenge! 🎉

  • Katarzyna Popiel11 months ago

    I like the mood you have created here. It feels like something I could easily step into. Congratulations!

  • Grz Colm11 months ago

    Much of this is very relatable Cathy. I love how you have captured these feelings. This is one I missed from you but am glad to read it now. Congrats on your placement! 😊

  • Well done placing in the challenge 🤗👍🏼.

  • John Cox11 months ago

    Back to say congratulations on placing in the challenge! Richly deserved!

  • Shirley Belk11 months ago

    Wow...this one is one of your finest!! I stopped and re-read all through this to feel it and then feel more...especially this part," It jolts me, and I realize that I’ve lost time but gained space, that I’ve seen truth but have been blind to the lies front of me, that I care for little but am in want of more."

  • Intriguing poem of contrasts, like: “Loving that I can feel the silence. Hating the emptiness it brings. Holding on to the whole of nothing. Watching shards of everything slip away”💖

  • Daphsam12 months ago

    Such an inspirational poem!

  • Gina C.12 months ago

    Excellent poetry as always, my talented friend 💙 Parts of this felt so freeing and cleansing. Wonderful, wonderful work!

  • L.C. Schäfer12 months ago

    I love the idea of the sea washing your soul clean, and how you've framed this as definitely not a gentle process. Pulverising is a great word!

  • D.K. Shepard12 months ago

    Such layered dichotomies in this! Fantastic work, Cathy! I was especially struck by “Loving that I can feel the silence. Hating the emptiness it brings.” Very relatable tension!

  • Ruth Stewart12 months ago

    Great stuff. The sea is so inspiring. You made me think.

  • Sean A.12 months ago

    A wonderful entry for this challenge! The stanza “it jolts…want more” is really making me reflect

  • Tiffany Gordon12 months ago

    Wonderful job Cathy! 💖

  • Paul Stewart12 months ago

    wow buddy! this was beautiful, love all the cotrasts and the sea theme! great image too! masterwork!

  • "that I’ve lost time but gained space," "yet my mind’s eye can’t sail" "My intentions are as vast as the ocean but my vessel is an ancient rowboat," These are some of my favourite lines! Loved your poem!

  • Caroline Craven12 months ago

    I’ve lost time but gained space - oh I love that. Feel like we could all do with a bit of that right now. Fab, Cathy.

  • Gabriel Huizenga12 months ago

    This is so, so lovely, Cathy! You've been a hero of mine on this site ever since I joined - and this piece is a perfect reminder of why. :) Positively chuffed that you would submit something for a poetry contest of mine!

  • Colleen Millsteed 12 months ago

    Fantastic work girl. I love these words : Holding tight to those I catch in the net of my soul

  • JBaz12 months ago

    Now this is a great entry Love this line that I’ve lost time but gained space, Very moving Cathy

  • sleepy drafts12 months ago

    Oh, this is so beautiful, Cathy 💗

  • Marie381Uk 12 months ago

    Fantastic ✍️♦️♦️♦️♦️

  • C. Rommial Butler12 months ago

    Well-wrought! Sometimes it seems we float, rudderless, and sometimes the wind seems to speak our name as it pushes us ahead. You caught the ebb and flow of consciousness here so well. Superb!

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