There’s a CD by the Thelonious Monk Septet called “Monk’s Music” that begins with “Abide with Me” played by the group. It’s played straight – not jazzed up – and it’s very moving. I wonder if you’ve heard it.
This is lovely. I particularly like the aptly observed image of the "yellow hem" of the tide (as you note, the sea isn't inherently blue or green: when a larger wave surges and retreats, its edges often curl into a swirling glass-like tube that almost seems to glow and magnify the sand beneath), as well as the image of the "world's wet rim," which has a pleasing air of Hopkins. Also, speaking as a fellow southerner, seeing the pure terza rima triplet of "hem," "hymn," and "rim" thoroughly delights me.
Thank you, my fellow southerner! And thank you for your own marvelous observation about the way a wave moves on the sand. I was saying to a friend the other day that I’m not a beach person (meaning that mountains are what I really want to be near, if not right in the middle of), but I do find the ocean and its movements fascinating and mysterious, especially at daybreak and nightfall.
I love this melodic sonnet with its old-fashioned and unapologetically tender tone. I admire the three-line stanzas and the simple but effective rhymes. The hymn Abide With Me can make me cry, and this sonnet has this soulful quality as well. Thank you.
I love it, too, and have sung it at many funerals. There’s also a Maxine Kumin poem, “Morning Swim,” that I’ve known and loved since high school, and that also uses “Abide with Me” as an end-rhyme with “sea” in the closing couplet — I couldn’t not think of it, and feel that I was talking back to it a little, though I was writing a different kind of poem.
This is a wonderful poem Sally. I am a big fan of Terza rima, and I love the sea so you really had me with this one.
Thank you, David.
There’s a CD by the Thelonious Monk Septet called “Monk’s Music” that begins with “Abide with Me” played by the group. It’s played straight – not jazzed up – and it’s very moving. I wonder if you’ve heard it.
Wait wait wait... no one said anything about Monk to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHctGCUS2fE
Yeah, I went off and found it. Just marvelous.
Some more, more Monkian, music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-nQqZVUqds
I have not! Thank you for the recommendation.
This is lovely. I particularly like the aptly observed image of the "yellow hem" of the tide (as you note, the sea isn't inherently blue or green: when a larger wave surges and retreats, its edges often curl into a swirling glass-like tube that almost seems to glow and magnify the sand beneath), as well as the image of the "world's wet rim," which has a pleasing air of Hopkins. Also, speaking as a fellow southerner, seeing the pure terza rima triplet of "hem," "hymn," and "rim" thoroughly delights me.
Applause for the "swirling glass-like tube that almost seems to glow and magnify the sand beneath," T.O.B.
Thank you, my fellow southerner! And thank you for your own marvelous observation about the way a wave moves on the sand. I was saying to a friend the other day that I’m not a beach person (meaning that mountains are what I really want to be near, if not right in the middle of), but I do find the ocean and its movements fascinating and mysterious, especially at daybreak and nightfall.
I love this melodic sonnet with its old-fashioned and unapologetically tender tone. I admire the three-line stanzas and the simple but effective rhymes. The hymn Abide With Me can make me cry, and this sonnet has this soulful quality as well. Thank you.
I get the impression that both Longfellow and Tennyson would appreciate this poem.
"The eventide’s
Upon us now, the turning of the day,
The long slow ebb as everything subsides
Into the dark." Fabulous sonnetry 🙌❤️
Thank you so much!
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing this poem with us.
Thank you for reading.
This is beautiful, Sally!
Thank you!
I love this one.
Thank you so much.
So good
Thank you!
A lovely poem, Sally. "Abide with Me" was my grandfather's favorite hymn and was sung at his funeral.
I love it, too, and have sung it at many funerals. There’s also a Maxine Kumin poem, “Morning Swim,” that I’ve known and loved since high school, and that also uses “Abide with Me” as an end-rhyme with “sea” in the closing couplet — I couldn’t not think of it, and feel that I was talking back to it a little, though I was writing a different kind of poem.
A lovely poem.
Thank you.
Beautiful!
Thank you, my friend.
Gorgeous!
Thank you!
The images and restraint in this is perfection.
Thank you so much
I’ve always loved a good sonnet. This one is impeccable. Thanks.
Thank you so much.