I have been witness`
when the storm swelled out at sea
a lonely lighthouse
anchored at the shore
casting light upon the surging tide
and knowing I could do no more
than witness, be
a beacon blazing light
as you were tossed about in waves
and almost dashed to pieces
on the treacherous rocks
of self-doubt and self loathing.
Beacon I, a witness, I
loved you always, sometimes from afar
hoping you’d see the light you sought was near:
‘Turn on the light within!’
So silently I’d cry
blinking once, twice, three times then
blazing, find your way safe back to shore
and home to me.
© Experimentsinfiction 2020, All Rights Reserved
Written for dVerse Poetics, where Peter is hosting. He has asked us to write some form of witness poetry. I have done this in the past, but never about events I have witnessed myself. The truth is, I haven’t witnessed many earth-shattering events, only personal tempests and domestic struggles. So that’s what I wrote about here.
Your beacon analogy shone through perfectly Ingrid…
Thanks Ivor 💡
Loved this poem.
Thank you so much 😊🙏
‘anchored at the shore’ – being particularly wonderful to me. Well done, Ingrid xo
Thanks Nick – I know you’re a fan of lighthouses…
well, ya gotta have an ‘obby!
Lovely piece Ingrid – and lighthouse the perfect analogy for steadfast love. Wonder if you’ve come across this piece from the BBC – on foghorns & lighthouses – great fun. – and thanks for joining in today.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b00yqp5z
Thanks I will check it out!
A beautiful extended metaphor, Ingrid. Lighthouses are wonderful things; we have an amazing red and white striped example not far from us in Happisburgh, thankfully still ‘anchored at the shore; but, due to erosion, we’re not sure how long for. I love the rhythm and alliteration of ‘a beacon blazing light’ and ‘blinking once, twice, three times’ and the crescendo of ‘then blazing’ before the comforting final line.
Thank you Kim 🌊
It’s such a good analogy and a strong one. It shines 🙂
Thank you Jane 🙂
🙂
That last stanza is especially vivid!
The persona as lighthouse, as the witness, the savior: this is just beautifully imagined, Ingrid, and a powerful testimony to steadfast love.
This is incredibly gorgeous! 😀 I especially love; “Beacon I, a witness, I loved you always, sometimes from afar
hoping you’d see the light you sought was near: ‘Turn on the light within!’” 💝💝
Wonderful poem, Ingrid! Perhaps we can shine the light for someone.
I love the sea imagery here, Ingrid, and the analogy is genius.
“as you were tossed about in waves
and almost dashed to pieces
on the treacherous rocks
of self-doubt and self loathing.”
The crashing waves, the interpretation of being submerged by an inner depth of self-doubt and self-loathing; all this happening to someone you care about or love, it can be so hard to witness it especially when there’s nothing that can be done directly to change it. Such a beautiful and profound piece. I enjoyed reading it very much. <3
Thank you so much, Lucy ❤️
Anytime. 🙂 You write wonderfully.
and you did it so well … all those confronting self doubt and loathing need a friend ready to listen, not judge! This is true friendship and many are in need of this kind of support 🙂
🙂
Very well done. I could feel the pain in this and the desire to reach out. Nice take on the prompt.
Dwight
The lighthouse is a perfect metaphor… but your use of it to be that of solitude and loneliness is different… I almost feel like you would see people passing by into safety but never staying.
Sometimes all we can do is wait and keep the light on…but that’s an important thing to do and be. (K)
Loved this Ingrid. Love like a lighthouse — yes indeed!
What a beautiful piece Ingid with the shining light and expressed so well! ❤️ Cindy
Beautiful. I really felt this.
Thank you Deborah 🙏
“and knowing I could do no more
than witness, be
a beacon blazing light” and what more can we do but what we do best?
Lovely imagery, beautiful metaphor, Ingrid. Others will sometimes lose their way. A light may help them find their way back. A beacon is sometimes the best thing we can be. <3
Thank you, Cheryl: that’s very true – no use trying to swim out into those stormy waters.