The ocean remembers
be them mortal remains tied to its depths
or screams that meld with billowing waves
I can see them, their silent forms
as they haul past sins from the ocean’s bed
their lips as they shiver from cold and dread
Only a few fragments
of humanity and hope are left to be seen
as the night lets out unremitting breath
The ocean remembers
Photo credits: Thomas Eakins
Posted for “Camera Flash” @ Real Toads
Posted on Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
Oh I can feel this… as if we were just shadows, the ocean will be there, a canvas for our brushstrokes.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Yes, the ocean remembers.
So few remnants of humanity and/or hope!
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Mary ❤️
I love the beginning line. It was a good closer as well. Who is more ancient than the ocean?
Thank you so much, Sara 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
This is beautifully haunting!
Thank you so much, Candy 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Poetry as dark as the picture! What sadness you have evoked in your poem. Beautifully written.
Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Oh yes, the ocean remembers, and I love the idea of past sins being hauled from its bed.
Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
These lines hold such a deep resonance, Sanaa. The image in the second stanza is particularly effective.
Thank you so much, Miranda 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt)
Interesting play with words. Could this ocean be a metaphor for our times now?
Most probably 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Paul ❤️
I love the imagery in this poem, thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you so much, John 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
screams that meld with billowing waves…. this bring to mind the refugee crisis and the boats on the Mediterranean and how we’re all just watching.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Rajani ❤️
So many secrets inside…
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Vandana ❤️
We can only hope our memory is as good as the ocean’s… and that our wisdom is as big.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Magaly ❤️
Only a few fragments
of humanity and hope are left to be seen.
But it is for that that we continue going forward, I guess.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Vinay ❤️
Nature (the ocean, the rivers, the streams) remembers things that we would rather forget. How? I do not know, but like you, I know that it’s true.
Thank you so much, MMT 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
“I can see them, their silent forms
as they haul past sins from the ocean’s bed
their lips as they shiver from cold and dread”
Love this!
Thank you so much, Susie 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
A dark poem, drawn skillfully from the photo. How many “past sins” does the ocean hold? Somber and evocative writing.
Thank you so much, Beverly 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
The ocean does remember……There is a haunting feel to this poem which I like very much.
Thank you so much, Sherry 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
I like the eerie feel of this. It is like a doomsday prophecy. One we all fear. Good writing Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Myrna 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
I really liked where this prompt took you, the idea of the sea holding all these memories and terrors is a chilling one. You captured it beautifully.
Thank you so much, Isadora 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
A lot of sins happen in the ocean and yes, the ocean remembers. Great write Sanaa! 🙂
Thank you so much, James 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
The ocean sure has many stories to tell.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Colleen ❤️
Beautiful frame on this–and you are right–the ocean does remember.
Thank you so much, Audrey 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
The ocean remembers as energy is ongoing and perhaps, the ocean strikes back a bit. Let’s hope the ocean is forgiving.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Truedessa ❤️
Haunting … poignant … impactful words in a mesmerizing cadence. An awesome job on this!
Thank you so much, Wendy 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
The ocean remembers.. haunting and powerful and amazing poem.
Thank you so much, Marja 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
This was very good, Sanaa 🙂
Thank you so much, ZQ 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
Only a few fragments
of humanity and hope are left to be seen
The danger of being ignored is very real!
Hank
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Hank ❤️
All those secrets of history rocked in the waves of the ocean. Yes she remembers and stores them
Thanks for droppibg by my Sunday Standard Sanaa
Much💖love
Thank you so much, Gillena 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
much love…
Perhaps there are a lot many stories flowing through the ocean. The ocean has seen it all, and remembers them very well. Loved the imagination and your narration in this poetic piece 🙂
Thank you so much, Amrit 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
This poem evokes such sadness. So few fragments of humanity and hope left.. so true..
Thank you so much, Namy 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
“the ocean remembers” is a startling idea — not new but always it nudges us, clarifying our intelligence with its greater dark totality. Night and sleep and dream subsume us, and we crawl forth at dawn reduced to walking feet and counting words. Loved it.
Thank you so much, Brendan 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Great line / great refrain: ‘The ocean remembers’.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
So gritty.
Thank you so much, Marian 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️