She Stays
A Story Inspired by The Grandmother
She sits, silent, sorrowful,
Searching shimmering seas,
Seeking solace, summoning strength.
---
Somewhere, sailors sing shanties.
Sails strain, swells swallow ships.
Siren songs steal sailors.
---
Sand shifts, settles.
Slowly, sunset steals sight.
Steadfast, she stays.
***
Another one inspired by one of my photos. This rock formation, "The Grandmother," is located at State Beach, just outside Trinidad, California. I've spent quite a bit of time with my family there, and I've always found her intriguing.
Thanks for reading!
About the Creator
Dana Crandell
Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.
Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist
My poetry collection: Life, Love & Ludicrosity
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FPS: The Last Flame Challenge Winners
Welcome to our first Winners Announcement of the year and to the final challenge in the Fall Poetry Series. The Last Flame invited writers to sit with endings, using fire as a central image to consider what remains when something burns out: ash, warmth, memory, silence, or the faint promise of what comes next. The strongest pieces treated endings as gradual rather than sudden, allowing them to flicker, dim, and linger.
By Vocal Curation Team6 days ago in Resources
Comments (54)
An outstanding tautogram, Dana!
A whole lifetime in a tautogram... Well done! 😎
Beautiful poem, Congrats on top story!
Beautiful buddy 😀
This poem is a beautiful and evocative tribute to the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. The use of alliteration and repetition throughout the poem creates a sense of rhythm and flow that is both soothing and haunting. The imagery in the poem is vivid and striking, with the description of the "shimmering seas" and the "sails strain[ing]" creating a sense of tension and danger. The use of the metaphor of sailors being lured by Siren songs is particularly effective in conveying the idea of the powerful forces of nature and the dangers that lurk beneath the surface. The final line of the poem, "Steadfast, she stays," is a powerful statement of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of danger and uncertainty, we can find the courage to stay grounded and remain steadfast. Overall, this is a well-crafted and deeply moving poem that showcases the author's talent for using language to capture the essence of the natural world and the human experience. The fact that it was inspired by a photograph makes it all the more impressive, as it demonstrates the power of visual art to inspire creativity and emotion.
Congratulation on your Top Story for your great Tautogram
Excellent poems
This is so well done. An excellent use of words. Loved it. Congrats.
Beautiful! Congrats on a top story.
☺️ Already read and hearted this before, but have come across it again. Swell job Dana!
Beautiful, Dana. The words mirror and reflect the rock like a shimmering shadow on the water. Thank you for sharing this 🤗
I thought I had commented on this already. I must have clicked the heart and then absentmindedly forgotten. Apologies. This is a beautiful piece, and I love the image that inspires it. Well done on a worthy Top Story, Dana! So sparse but so impactful! A classic!
Congrats 🎊🎉🎈
A siren song in itself. As always, well done.
Loved this. Well done!
Beautiful
Beautiful photo and a minimum of words to paint a beautiful evocative story. Congrats!
This is beautifully crafted! Great job :)
Beautiful 😍 congratulations on top story!
Compelling writing. Thanks for sharing
Oh myyyyy! This is the kind of poem that beckons you to stay a while and listen. Beautiful! Well done and congratulations on your Top Story!
Really liked it! Especially the first one!
Very beautiful. Congrats on the Top Story!!!
Nice work. One of the few I’ve read that manages to tell a story with the style
I had a feeling I'd see this as a top story! Congrats, Dana!