Click Flickr pic for source
Getting Ducked
I remember, whipping off
our sweaty clothes so fast
wriggling into taut swimsuits
salt-faded from the past.
Down, down, to the ocean went we…
our childish laughter…
floating out…to sea…
Tripping, tumbling down the bank
with just one goal to reach
grazed up knees and elbows
wouldn’t keep us from that beach.
“You go first!”, “No, you!” we’d yell.
“It’s too cold!!!!”
(Our fears we’d have to quell.)
Rolling tides on sun-baked shore,
we dipped our toes and screeched;
ankles, calves, then knobby knees–
Atlantic depths were breached.
“Hen, rooster, chicken…duck!” above the din,
of warming winds— then we were in.
Summers that we dove and dove
through rushing wake and wave
plunging from the wharf of stone
we fancied ourselves brave.
Down, down, to the ocean went we…
our childish laughter…
floating…out…
to sea.
Kathleen Mortensen © 2008
For more One Single Impression participants please see the link in my sidebar. Thank you.
3-5-3, 3-7-5 
John is writing about moving to the ocean, you're writing about jumping into it and my daughter is lying on the edge of it with a bunch of friends. Must be summer.
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I'm cheating, Mairi. This is an older one, but it fits the OSI prompt.Kat
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beautiful…you captured that moment of childhood ectasy so well…i wanna be at the ocean. (pouty) smiles.
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Me too, Brian! Me too.Kat
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Yes, that does capture something about the seaside indeed. Beautifully done, Kat!
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Makes one want to go wade into the ocean!
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Oh, I was there with you, Kat, knobby knees and all. Lovely.
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A great read from great memories. So playfully written, from the days of a child. I really enjoyed it.
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I really enjoyed reading. Such a playfully written memory. Takes me back to days at the beach house as a child.
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I'm glad you had some time to read actual books but … glad you're back and sharing your poetry with us.How is your back??
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Even though I grew up there I still remember the anticipation. You never knew what that water was going to be like! Great imagery Kat!
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I'm feeling very land locked here. Lovely poem Kat. I love that repetitive phrase.
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This is sweet. I love when poetry can take me there. Yours did…wonderfully!
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Kat how lovely!
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An exuberance of childhood – I reveled in this shouts and call of this – a fine and fun piece!
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it carried me far away, kat – away from oklahoma – to a place where i scarce saw my father, but he was there. thanks for the glimpse.
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I was right there with you! Fantastico! I could feel the rhythm of the waves and the splashing and the salt on my face.
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You managed to capture so eloquently the feeling of childhood memories and the sea. I love the ocean and even today it is to me the most beautiful place to be…
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This is a beautiful elegy to childhood. I love it. I remember those days. Those stiff, faded swimsuits! They stood by themselves by summer's end! And the fun of taking that plunge. I can taste the salt as I read this. Childhood flies swiftly by.
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Hi Kat, I like this sweet and simple little poem. Your recollections of childhood thoughts and feelings are merged very well into action memories.I read your comment here to Mairi. Until seeing that I had thought you had already put that 'fat kat muse' back to work very soon after her holiday! :-)..
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BEAUTIFUL pictureand so lovely true words 🙂
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You took me straight back to my own childhood, and those wonderful visits to the beach. We always felt such excitement about the ocean! It was hard to contain ourselves. Beautiful read!
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I grew up just a five minute walk from Camps Bay beach and a lot of rocky coves along the seafront. One could take one's pick of where to camp out and swim all afternoon in the freezing Atlantic under the hot sun. (There is something of John Masefield's rhythm in your poem!)
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I felt so good reading this!ravens chase out thoughts from the mindKill Word Verification
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Lovely reminiscence.
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So vibrant and alive; reflective of the child's spirit you capture so beautifully, Kat!And you're right, a needed respit we all need!p.s. I wanted to thank you for your heartfelt comment on The Tribute. I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted it. If you've got the time, The Aclinic Line is up.
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Oh..I love this one Kat. I love anything that invokes the innocence and playfulness of youth.
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This is really a fun piece. I remember days like this too. The best kind of playfulness.
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What memories you conjure up for us. It was as if we were there with you. I loved this poem and the memories of your childhood.
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A nice happy memory, reminds me of my own childhood swims, minus the salt, in Lake Michigan!
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I didn't grow up by the ocean, but you touched on a universal sensation/memory and in your poem, I could hear myself squealing. Thanks!
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What lovely memories. Some very similar to mine.
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Oh Kat, this is lovely! It must be a time for nostalgia.
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Kat, I love the interspersed childhood chants – very effective and makes me want to be at the beach!
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Absolutely delightful. I can smell this and feel the rocks beneath my feet.
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Hello Kat,I love this poem and the photo!I just came back from the ocean and it was so pretty.I also had to stop into the local shell shop to pick up a pretty starfish and a huge sand dollar for my livingroom mantle.Have a nice day!Lydia
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Love it!And that pic is fantastic!
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Afraid of horseshoe crabs but not mermaids.
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So good to remember times like that. I can see that happening here the water off the Maine coast is cold all summer.A very pleasant read.
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another great one.
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You ignited these memories… insulated bags toting precious cargo, 3 subways and one bus to Golden Beach, the peppermint twist, you know it goes like this; sand between the toes and crunch in the sandwich and the rush of skinny bird legs hurtling into the waves.Thank you for reviving this summer delight.
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This poetry of yours brings such precious memories of summers at the edge of the sea. Lovely!
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