Surface. It could be silky-smooth or as rough as a clam shell road, a thing of beauty or something so hideous that it hurts the eyes. What you see may indeed be what you get or only the first of many layers, leading to new discoveries the deeper you go. We tend to take so many things at face value because it's easier than expending the effort to ferret out the truth.
The sense of touch is a wonderful way to find out about the world we live in. Babies use it from the moment they are born, finding their way in a blurry world, learning from textures on the surface to find nourishment and security, stimulating their brain, imprinting on a slate that will never be as ready for new information as it is at that moment.
I enjoy a good treasure hunt, digging beneath the surface at yard sales and flea markets, in boxes and piles, just begging to give up their secrets. I have found many things of value that way, not just in cash but also in history, a look at things and lives long past.
So, for your enjoyment, I present,
What Lies Beneath
I walked deep in the desert,
Sand and rocks all around,
Hoping for a sign
Of water beneath the ground.
That precious liquid,cool and fresh
To renew my life and bring me rest.
Relief.
The longer I walked and stumbled,
The weaker I became.
The way I sought to travel
No longer seemed a game.
I looked up and thought I saw it
Shimmering through the haze.
It's placid surface gleaming
Beneath the sun's harsh gaze.
I gathered my strength and breath.
For the surface I had to cross
Was full of rocks and hidden traps.
I could not face the loss.
I had to gain my objective
No matter what the cost.
But when I reached the water
And leaned down to drink,
I found the water bitter.
It drove me to the brink.
Then I turned around and saw
The love you had for me.
If I had looked beneath the surface,
This pain did not need to be.
You stretched your arms out to me.
Though I had run to find
The excitement I thought I was missing.
How could I be so blind
Not to have looked beneath the surface
To find a love for all time.
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Very nice. I always enjoy your combination of prose and poetry!
ReplyDeleteah yes, to see beyond the obvious.
ReplyDeletewonderful verse...just beneath the surface, the water is living, not bitter. smiles.
ReplyDeleteDid you write that? It's very good.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is so close... yet we are blind.
ReplyDeleteQuenching your thirst via emotion rather than fluid, eh?
ReplyDeleteI, too, share your thrill of the treasure hunt. I'm looking forward to your poetry every week! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteSo many people fail to look deeper than the surface. It is a shame.
ReplyDeleteYou never cease to amaze me with your poetic talent! I am so glad I met you through The Silver Fox!
ReplyDeleteNice reflection on surface! BTW, your address is wrong on TT--there's a comma instead of a period before "com" part of URL. thought you might want to know.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem and we do sometimes forget to look below the surface of others. So glad you found a love for all time. Nice way of describing the search.
ReplyDeleteFinding treasures at garage sales or flea markets is lots of fun. Maybe someday you will discover one of those great finds that are worth lots and lots of money. But even small finds are fantastic.
Happy TT.
God bless.
Ha I'm the opposite, I delve well below the surface! It's a flaw believe me
ReplyDeletea fine explanation of digging through the surface to find treasures...happy TT, late.
ReplyDeleteHello Dreamhaven! I am always impressed by the poetry a few of you do. I know it isn't spontaneous. It's hard work. Good example and challenge for the rest of us to aspire. Lovely.
ReplyDeletethis is nice
ReplyDeleteand also, has got me thinking about touch
I find it really hard not to touch things in shops, exhibitions etc.....
good post! and nice to "meet" you!