avatarAnthea Jones

Summary

The web content is a personal reflection on the author's experience of scattering their father's ashes at sea, expressed through a mirror nonet poem, and acknowledging the influence of others in their journey of writing and sharing poetry.

Abstract

The author shares a poignant moment where they and their three-year-old niece scatter the ashes of their father into a rock pool, symbolizing a farewell and a new connection with the sea. The experience is immortalized in a mirror nonet, a poetic form that reflects the vastness and mystery of the ocean. The piece is a response to a writing prompt from Poetry Playground, with the author expressing gratitude to Jonny Masters for suggesting the nonet form and to ThePleasurePen for their encouragement to write and share poetry. The article invites readers to join the Poetry Playground community, emphasizing that everyone is welcome to explore the ocean of possibility that poetry offers.

Opinions

  • The author conveys a sense of continuity and transformation, as the ashes of their father become part of the sea and potentially a companion to the whales, which is comforting to the family, especially the young niece.
  • There is a reverence for the sea, depicted as a living entity with its own rituals and the power to inspire awe and respect in its worshipers.
  • The act of scattering ashes is seen as both a goodbye and a hello, a duality that resonates with the author's poetic expression.
  • The author values the community and mentorship provided by Poetry Playground and individuals like Jonny Masters and ThePleasurePen, acknowledging their role in the author's poetic journey.
  • The invitation to Poetry Playground suggests an inclusive and supportive environment for writers and poetry enthusiasts, highlighting the author's positive view of this creative space.

POETRY | PLAYING | LEARNING | REFLECTING

Grandpa and the Whales

A mirror nonet featuring the sea

Photo by the author

We poured my dad’s ashes in a rock pool all at once before swirling foamy water swept us off slippy black rocks, cloudy wisps of grey not enough to slake its thirst for new worshipers. Now at even the most pristine beach the three-year-old must pause and squint, hand raised not to wave goodbye to grandpa but hello, she hopes he’s having the very best fun swimming with the whales.

This is a response to Poetry Playground prompt #15:

And huge thanks to Jonny Masters for suggesting the nonet as a possible form:

Join us at Poetry Playground. Everyone is welcome!

And as always, to ThePleasurePen who gave me that very first push I needed to write and share poetry — I wouldn’t have written any poems at all without their enthusiastic support!

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