I wrote this poem whilst on holiday in Southbourne, Dorset after I read somewhere that when starved of our senses (as humans) in a sensory deprivation chamber, the loudest thing that remains is our own thoughts. Now, as an overthinker, this was quite alarming, as my mind is already extremely loud, even with all my senses working at full tilt. It got me wondering if this may be the opposite then for overthinkers - perhaps our minds become still. For me, a thalassophile (someone who feels an inescapable need to be and live by the sea; it's the unconditional love of the ocean - come rain or shine) the ocean has always created this calm for me - my sensory deprivation tank. The art is by Benjamin Viulet - called 'The War Within'.
I wrote this poem shortly after viewing the eclipse whilst on holiday in Southbourne. I was absolutely blown away by the spectacle that unfolded along the highcliff that day (August 12 2026). People flocked to the spot, setting up tents, picnics, camping chairs, music and used any means necessary to view the rare beauty of the 94% total eclipse. They used, colanders, cereal boxes, welder’s masks and foil…but one thing that they could not use was their phones, due to the sheer power of the sun. The event was a stunning phenomenon and one I will remember forever. But the more beautiful event was that the world stopped for a moment to just take in the absolute unexplainable might and beauty of nature. That’s what I hoped to capture in this poem.
Written August 2025 in Southbourne, Dorset, whilst on holiday. I was inspired by seagulls first in Devon in 2023, when on holiday in Ilfracombe. We stayed in a lovely apartment with panoramic ocean views and I just fell in love with watching the seagulls bobbing on the water, like little floating pebbles, basking on the rocks in the day and drifting and gliding on the wind - and I felt a jealousy and decided there and then, that if reincarnation is, indeed a real thing, I'd love to come back as a seagull.
No comments:
Post a Comment