POETRY

Eventide Stroll to Stir my Soul

A Poem

Light up, my tender soul Let your heart rise and stroll along the trail that sets you free towards the pathway to the sea Let yourself in moonlight shine Ramble along the soft coastline Feel the waves upon bare feet rising and falling with each heartbeat

Look up, my gentle soul Let all your troubles roll off the shoulders of the shore to settle beneath the ocean floor Let your worries be released Let your heart be soft in peace Rise upon the pelican’s wing Upwards to the sky, you spring

Let your soul ascend in flight burden-free and feather-light afflictions left upon the ground Simple sweet serenity surrounds Whispering wind breathes new life into the lungs of the deep blue tide Exhale all the strains and stress Inhale the steady stream of rest

Fly, fly, fly, my little night bird upon the wings of poetic verse Climb beyond the stratosphere Let the whole world disappear Let your soul set sail tonight upon the waves of moonlight Let the stars be your guide Be swept away at eventide

Sail, sail, sail, my soft soul upon the folded scrolls of the inspired poet in flight Sail to the edge of night beyond the vanishing trees past the trickling streams to the eaves of the seas into the midst of a dream

The Inspiration behind the Poem

This poem was partially inspired by the late Robin Williams, his characters and his personal statements. His name conjures images of his many characters in movies and comedy shows. My two favorites are Patch Adams and Dead Poets Society, where he shared this timeless quote:

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

~Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society

I recently watched the documentary Robin’s Wish. An audio clip of a phone message he left for his wife was played in the film. This one simple statement was a joy to hear and an inspiration for me to write, sketch, and paint:

“Paint, paint, paint, paint, paint, my little Picasso!” ~The late Robin Williams in a phone message to his wife

I was inspired, and from that quote was birthed the first line of my poem:

Light up, my tender soul

That’s all I had in me last night, or so I thought! I felt as though Robin was speaking to the world, to each and every one of us, encouraging us to move forward and continue in whatever brings us joy.

Paint, paint, paint! Sketch, sketch, sketch! Write, write, write! Bring forth whatever lies dormant within you and let it out into the light. Let your passions, your hopes, your dreams, rise from beneath the shadows of your mind into the living, breathing world! That is exactly what I’ve been doing. A dear friend reminded me of this line from the poem, “Sea Fever,” by John Masefield:

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by

I drew the previous sketches yesterday. It was a long day filled with work and a few enjoyable breaks. I took a little time to follow my interpretation of Robin’s exhortation: “Paint, paint, paint...” by beginning my fleet of ghost ships sketches! It was late. I was tired and ready for bed. All it took was a reminder from a sweet friend, of a line from one of my favorite poems, to revitalize me! I was inspired to stay up well beyond my bedtime to write this poem.

Most poetry by John Masefield, including my favorite poem quoted below, is in the public domain. I’m thankful for the poetry he shared with the world and the inspiration he brought to me. Without further ado, here’s the poem, which my friend reminded me:

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking. I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

~Sea Fever by John Masefield.

More about Masefield

British poet John Edward Masefield was born in Herefordshire. He studied at Warwick School before training as a merchant seaman. In 1895, he deserted his ship in New York City and worked there in a carpet factory before returning to London to write poems describing his experience at sea. Masefield was appointed British poet laureate in 1930. ~Poetry Foundation

Another Nautical Poem by Masefield

Thank you for reading! And remember…

Paint, paint, paint! whether it is done with brushes or with words

Sketch, sketch, sketch! whether it is drawn with pencils or with poetry

Write, write, write! Bring forth whatever lies dormant within you and let it out into the light. Let your passions, your hopes, your dreams, rise from beneath the shadows of your mind into the living, breathing world! The world needs your special gifts, and your inspiration. Have a wonderful day filled with whatever brings light to your soul and joy to your heart!

Thank you Agnes Louis and Warm Hearts for giving this poem a home!

Want more inspiration? Check out this inspiring article by Agnes Louis!