The Ocean Was My Temple

reflector
Author: reflector
Word Count: 133
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The Ocean Was My Temple

Memories of a lifestyle and an obsession that I had years ago. Times change and I can’t believe that I moved on, but I did.

I traveled to many parts of New South Wales and Queensland to surf. But Newcastle is my home town and the place where I surfed most of the time.

There is a photo that accompanies this poem called Afternoon Surf Session

Featured in –
The All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical group on Saturday 12/09/2009. Thanks to Suzanne German for choosing to feature my work.

The You’re Accepted group on Sunday 13/09/2009. Thanks to Nancy and Lisa for the feature !

Comments are very welcome ! Feedback is a great teacher for all of us.

The Ocean Was My Temple belongs to the following groups:

Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, A Place To Call Home, All Around the Styles, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Australian Landmarks and Icons, AW Welcome Center, Beach Art, Bits and Pieces , Going Coastal (2 art per day), Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Nature's Wonders, Newcastle NSW, Lake Macquarie & Surrounding Region, Safe Haven, Shameless Self-Promotion, Something To Say, Sports Photography, The Patchwork , The true beauty, Waves and WMG

I lived to dive into your waters
To damage your canvass with my fins
To paint around tour edges
To feel you push me around playfully,
trying to wrestle me with force
To ride the energy that emanates from your hands
To dissect your sections

Chasing you as you unfurled another amazing wave that comes just once to crash into your shores
Sometimes you wrapped me in a watery cocoon and then spat me out and said ” come and play on my shoulders “

” Look at my lips, then go and slice through them and I will make them again with only water ”
The Ocean Was My Temple
And I worshiped at her feet

I lived to feel the Rush
The Speed
The Power
The Awe
The Ocean Was My Temple
And my God

  • Antanas

    Antanas

    beautiful…

  • reflector

    reflector

    Thanks Antanas. I don’t get many comments on my poetry, ever. I changed styles with these last three – they are not as spiritual or searching and contemplative. The others are about 4 years old – they were just something that I hid away on my computer. I found this site and thought why not see what strangers think of my written work. Not much, I suspect.

  • Pagly2

    Pagly2

    This is the first piece that i have seen and if this is anything to go by ..i want MORE….....this is GREAT….......thank you…

  • reflector replied

    Thanks ” by the pound ” Pagly2 !
    I have 12 written works on RB – 4 very recent poems, an intro for a science fiction movie ( just me dreaming, not a reality ), and 7 that were poems written in the middle of 2003. They are more about philosophy and secular spirituality than my current poems. Some would say they’re very stale, but I don’t know.

  • Caroline (KARO) Evans (caux)

    Caroline (KARO...

    very inspiring!

  • reflector

    reflector

    Thanks a lot Caroline ! It’s good to know someone ( anyone, anywhere in the world ) likes my writing.

  • dinghysailor1

    dinghysailor1

    I love this and can relate to it! (tho not a surfer!)

  • reflector

    reflector

    Thanks Dinghy ! Neither am I a surfer anymore, but I will remember those sensations forever ! You are riding the forces of nature, just like a sailor rides wind and water !

  • jianina

    jianina

    i really like the broadness of these lines>>>it gives a great sense to create our own images of waves in our lives>>well put!

  • reflector replied

    I never thought of that ! It was just about surfing and the sensations that it gives you. But I see your point !

  • jianina

    jianina

    Ohhhh…well it deep>>>more than a oceans deep>>and i loved the rush it gave me to read!

  • reflector replied

    That’s a powerful impact ! I like that !

    I love comments on any kind of art I make because it’s like writing in a few new lines at the end, or adding a few new details to an image – it makes it more complete.

  • linaji

    linaji

    This is an amazing piece… I always think a surfers spiritual nature is bound with the water and the wave.. learning so much from the time literally ONE with Nature…Just Glorious work!

  • reflector

    reflector

    You captured what the primary attraction of surfing is Linaji ! It starts out as a hobby, but it becomes a deep, spiritual connection to the ocean. Thanks a lot !

  • JohnScott

    JohnScott

    dude! you’re the man. Wave-god!

  • reflector replied

    Did you mean Wave To God ? I don’t know where to point my wave at, so I suppose down at the ground will suffice ! Being short, it will make me feel more connected to the great scheme of things ! :D

    Thanks Dropping Arm Into Cuttie Man !

  • JohnScott

    JohnScott

    lol rofl, Dropping arm lol. he haa that made my day. lol

  • reflector replied

    Great stuff ! Glad to hear it. The skate park is calling me ! “James ! James ! ” and I must obey.

  • JohnScott

    JohnScott

    concrete with a mouth, lol.

  • reflector replied

    A Big Mouth ! It’s swallowed a few hours of my time over these last few years and I don’t mind at all ! You get that same natural high, relaxed feeling when you come home exhausted and charged with adrenaline that hasn’t abated yet. I sound old describing it like that – I should be all ” that was ssooo sick, bro ” but times change and me as well. Just flowing with it, not resisting.

  • lallymac

    lallymac

    I love the personification here. Beautifully done!

  • reflector replied

    Thanks very much Lallymac, I’m glad you like it !

  • Angel Warda

    Angel Warda

    beautiful writing!!!

  • reflector replied

    Thank you very much Angel, I really appreciate the Fave ! This was written to try and let people who have not surfed understand that it is far more than just a hobby or a sport. It becomes a way to worship the environment and really feel a strong connection to it.

  • Laurette Ruys

    Laurette Ruys

    a purely magical piece reflector :)

  • reflector replied

    Thanks very much Laurette ! I used to experience all that and so much more, but would have never described it that way years ago. Cheers, James.

  • Kimberley Davitt

    Kimberley Davitt

    congratulations on being featured in the group WAVES

    well done

  • reflector replied

    Thanks very much Kim ! It was also featured in The True Beauty a few days before as well. I wrote a Journal to thank the moderators, including you ! :)

  • amarica

    amarica

    Congratulations on being featured in the Waves group!!

  • reflector replied

    Thank you, much appreciated !

  • Brendan Schoon
  • reflector replied

    Thanks very much Brendan, that’s great news ! [ I like the Grunge Banner too ! ]

  • DesignsByDeb

    DesignsByDeb

    I felt the water as I read it.

  • reflector replied

    Thanks for your awesome comment Deb ! I’m glad it had that much of an effect on you. Surfing is that powerful an experience that many nights I couldn’t get to sleep, re-calling the manoeuvres and best waves of the day.

  • reflector replied

    Thanks for the fave too !

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    And….that poetry all came from the easygoing mind
    of yourself riding the waves…
    Always felt envy to your love….for I fear the Ocean… and the most, the profoundity and the power of the waves, and though I love them with intense awe.
    Read your sentences, your verses, pouring with beautiful metaphors and feeling your feelings…and somehow changing my prejudices against the “wave riders” association of youth full of extra time and emtpy head… We, sometimes…. are not clear enough in our intelligence.
    Great…..enjoyed of all it.
    Rosa

  • reflector replied

    I use a million tabs in my browser and forgot to reply to your great comment Rosa ! :))
    The ocean can be very dangerous and has claimed countless lives throughout history, so it’s very worthy of respect and awe. I’ve had quite a few lacerations, scrapes and breathless dunkings in my years of surfing too. But it was still worth it and I still felt driven to catch waves and ride them to the best of my ability – and to expand that skill at every opportunity.

    This poem is written in a way I probably would never have described surfing in my earlier years. It’s designed to give people who haven’t surfed an insight into the spiritual and self-expressive nature of surfing. To let them see beyond the simple act of riding a wave, flicking off and then riding another one. Which from an outsiders point of view might seem pointless and a wasteful use of valuable time. It looks like you really ” got it ” which is really something ! Thanks :-))

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    Got it right….!
    Yes… body-mind t the service ob harmony , equilibrium and submmitting to the second.
    I repeat…. I love it!!!
    Rosa

  • reflector replied

    Thanks Rosa ! :-)

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    Because we can share with you, inside our mind-soul, the creaving need of the human-dolphins to find joy in letting oneself going in balance and meditation alond a sea-riding….this poem well deserves it.
    Rosa

  • reflector

    reflector

    Human-Dolphins ! [ Laughing + :)ing ]. Thanks for the feature Rosa, Prasad and Linaji. Always appreciated ! Yes, it’s a very meditative and spiritual hobby / lifestyle even if the young guns may forget to mention that in their interviews they have felt that power to relax and become one with the forces of nature. The same kind of harmony that people get in deep meditation and yoga.

  • kevinmawson

    kevinmawson

    An excellent read ,really enjoyed this, I love water but i am not a surfer!

    km.

  • reflector replied

    Thanks a lot Kevin ! I wrote it in a way that non-surfers could get the feeling of surfing and experience some of the magic that you just can’t discern from the shore.

  • kevinmawson

    kevinmawson

    I did get it , i am an avid swimmer and can water ski so i truly understand, that is why i enjoyed reading your work!

    km.

  • reflector replied

    It would seem a really flowery and eccentric to a surfer – even to me about 18 years ago. I’m glad you liked it. :)

  • Nancy Chambers

    Nancy Chambers

    You just took me on a trip down memory lane. :) Time to visit the waves….Excellent writing!!!

  • reflector replied

    Thanks very much for choosing to feature my writing Nancy ! :))

  • elatan

    elatan

    Congrats on your feature!!!

  • reflector replied

    Thanks a lot !

  • Shelagh Linton

    Shelagh Linton

    wow this is a great piece of work, congrats on feature. :)

  • reflector replied

    Thanks Shelagh, I appreciate your feedback ! :-)

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