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Notes About The Poem

Originally published: 1st October 2019

Photo by gR

This poem was placed 1st in the "UN-RHY-ME" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 29th December 2020)

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A poem dedicated to all the doctors and nurses at Southport Promenade Hospital (UK) who helped save my life in 1972

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The Marram Grass

when respite was
deckchairs and picnics
on car blankets
behind 
windbreaks

sand was blown
into sheltered spaces
behind
driftwood and
rock.

dunes
grew
as grains of sand
accumulated
over time.

then
winds and waves
ate away
at everything
in their path.

as resilient barriers
gave way to
the full power
of nature’s
destructive forces

the
erosion
cried out
for radical
intervention: 

something 
to keep things 
at bay 
and 
buy time.

like 
the big plastic doors
that closed behind me
inside the 
promenade hospital.

like 
the blue paper masks 
and the blue paper hats
in 
the theatre.

like
the antibiotics
and disinfectant
on
'o' ward.

like
the marram grass
on the dunes
at 
ainsdale.

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Joseph May Date: 8/30/2022 5:35:00 AM Congrats on your win Gary, Very nicely done Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 8/30/2022 12:30:00 PM Hi Joseph. Many thanks for your kind comments and for sponsoring the contest. Cheers - Gary

Elaine George Date: 12/29/2020 8:26:00 AM A metaphoric masterpiece, dear Gary. Many congrats on your top-notch win. ~ Elaine Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/29/2020 11:05:00 AM Thanks so much Elaine. :) I'm making 2021 the year for writing more free verse. I do find it harder than writing rhyme for some reason but that's the challenge. Cheers - Gary

Susan Ashley Date: 12/2/2020 11:56:00 AM Gary, my heart's imagination is swept up and away in the metaphoric beauty and inspired imagery of your amazing poem. An awesome salute to the doctors and nurses who saved your life. Congratulations for your excellent win in Brian's contest.. ~Susan Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/2/2020 2:25:00 PM :) Thank you Susan. Susan Ashley Date: 12/2/2020 1:54:00 PM Yes, your poem has a very intimate feeling to it, thank you for sharing such a personal piece.. and I definitely think you should let loose your free verse pen more often, my talented friend :) Gary Radice Date: 12/2/2020 1:17:00 PM Thanks Susan. It's the most personal of my poems and the second free verse poem I ever wrote. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman Date: 12/1/2020 8:51:00 AM Wonderful use of metaphor, imagery all against the backdrop of beach erosion! This is like a walk on the beach in the winter. I agree with Andrea - more free verse! The formatting really adds to the spirit of your poem. Congratulations on your first place win! Sending you the best for the season! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 12/1/2020 9:58:00 AM Thank you Sam for your wonderful comments and your encouragement. It's all very much appreciated and the very best to you too for the season.

Andrea Dietrich Date: 4/20/2020 4:37:00 PM this was truly brilliant. You should try to write more and more free verse if it's still true you have not written many! Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 4/20/2020 5:12:00 PM Hi Andrea! Thank you for your comments and encouragement. Yes, 2 free verse poems are all I've written (The other is Happiland at https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/happiland_1185339 ) I have to hold my hand up and say that I find free verse much harder to write than rhyme but I'm going to have another go. Thanks again Gary.

Line Gauthier Date: 4/19/2020 9:27:00 PM Beautiful. Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 4/21/2020 3:53:00 AM Thank you Line for all your kind comments :) Gary

Indiana Shaw Date: 3/1/2020 11:37:00 PM A brilliant free verse poem, Gary, I think you expressed this moment in your life to perfection, glad to see you are still with us, a lovely tribute to your Doctor and the nurses who saved you, and a well-deserved win . . . : ) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 3/2/2020 4:14:00 AM Thank you so much. Your comments mean a lot to me Indiana. Of all the poems I have written this one is by far the most personal.

Brenda Chiri Date: 1/29/2020 12:17:00 PM Congrats on your top win my friend!;) Login to Reply Gary Radice Date: 1/29/2020 1:36:00 PM Thank you Brenda - I shall take a click over to read your winning poem soon :)