on Riptides &AttraCtion laws

Posted on by claudia

they smile shyly when i ask
if there’s a seat left at the table,
typing love codes on their phones,
pink painted nails, cheeks flushed,
few pieces fish & chips left
in the cardboard box
with a red “Nordsee” print

“he told me–” soy sauce

on my finger tips, the bullet rolls,
sshhhrckk– allEyes on it– settles
with a short, metallic cklack–wrong
number– “F– “ “new game?” they

giggle, riding a wave that
drags them far out from the coast,
the current a bit rougher than
expected, vis-à-vis, an old man

in an open shop door blows
cloudy smoke rings, morse code
messages with crinkled lips,
& i (bit lost in thoughts)

prepare safety jackets
(with a light & whistle to attract attention),
just in case of an emergency–

.

Nordsee is a fish restaurant chain in Germany…and usually when I’m next town for shopping I stop there for some Sushi and some people watching..and that’s what Brian wants us to do today for Poetics at dVerse..watch people and write a poem about them…just don’t drip soy sauce everywhere…just saying..smiles

48 responses to “on Riptides &AttraCtion laws”

  2. Best to always have those life jackets ready……whether they are literal or symbolic. And a light to find one’s way in the dark.

  3. “they smile shyly when i ask
    if there’s a seat left at the table,
    typing love codes on their phones,
    pink painted nails, cheeks flushed,
    few pieces fish & chips left
    in the cardboard box
    with a red “Nordsee” print

    “he told me–” soy sauce…”

    Hi! Claudia…
    Tks, for sharing, your very poetic, descriptive, and [very vivid] poetry…I must admit that after reading your poem I’m quite “glad” to know [and learn] that your people “gawking” skills aren’t “bad…” lol

    I hope that you, and your [family] have a nice week-end… too!
    deedee 🙂

  6. People watching can be most intriguing. When on their cells with games galore all the more engrossed they are. It’s fun to observe, the shrieks and laughter. Nicely Claudia!

    Hank

  7. smiles….love it….and the guy in the door, you give him just a bit of menace as you prepare the emergency jackets….i love this stuff…haha…the bullet rolls line is cool…as is the inclusion of the tide…your poetic mind has taken the scene at that point….

  11. I can just imagine you sitting there watching, each scene you perceive leaves an impression and you embellish it with your imagination. I love to people watch, but you turn the pastime into art. I love the elements you infused here. So wise to be prepared for emergencies.

    Have a great week-end Claudia. Enjoy.

  16. Morse code in smoke rings… lol I used to try and blow those when I smoked, think I only ever blew one once. Fun to people watch isn’t it you and Brian both do it so well.

  18. Oh excellent Claudia and
    “an old man

    in an open shop door blows
    cloudy smoke rings, morse code
    messages with crinkled lips,”

    brilliant!

    Anna :o]

  19. People watching can lead to so many interesting poems if one takes time to truly observe what is going on like you do so very well…another well crafted poem.

  21. You observe — and this sounds of daily life reads modernism. Your poetry sits on a table around them, in between yet securing laces for emergency. For emergency that life is today.
    You paint art with music.

  23. I see it’s already been said, but I can’t help it…

    in an open shop door blows
    cloudy smoke rings, morse code
    messages with crinkled lips,

    very awesome… I liked this piece… you drew me in with the very specific images and although I’ve never physically been there, I just was while riding the waves of your poem.

  24. Nice gentle painting of the scene…watching young people glued to their phones always intrigues me…I like the ending lines, its very hopeful ~

  27. You & Brian def keyed in on lovers, or maybe lovers, or possible lovers; and I enjoyed the few minutes with you at the fish joint; thanks.

  28. I love people watching in outdoor areas…we have a fish and chip shop here filled with locals and tourists…I love going there and observing…ooh and I love their fish and chips…think I might go there today for Sunday lunch… love atmospheric poem!

  30. Ah yes, Germany — it was the only place I have been where people join strangers at their tables if the restaurant is crowded. I love that custom.

    It was fun to visit your “Nordsee” — thanx for the footnote.

  31. Yes, your poetic nature always creates worlds within the world and I always love to visit them, whether sailing away from the seafood restaurant or catching a comet into outer space. I’ll pay for a ticket any day :)!

  33. This theme was so up your alley. Even before clicking to see your poem, I knew you’d nail it, which of course you did. I don’t think there’s many poets out there that can capture observations the way you can. you’ve mastered the ability to make observations, scenes etc…in such a wonderful poetic fashion. Great read. Thanks

  38. I don’t know about you but I find autumn as the most fascinating season in which to observe people. There’s something about this period between September and late November that brings a differente quality in my fello humans. In Britain, and especially London, I find this quite compelling. When I used to commute I used to come up with a different life story for almost every single passenger I saw on the tube. Your poem reminds me of this quality: “typing love codes on their phones,
    pink painted nails, cheeks flushed”. I can only think of them as a gaggle of adolescent girls, all laughing at the same time and making statements which sound like questions (rising intonation, anyone?).

    Thanks. I enjoyed your poem very much.

    Greetings from London.

  39. This is a very vivid piece. Your descriptive skills are excellent. It felt quite warm too… Almost like you were painting a picture. Delightful.

  44. Thanks for the visit, Claudia. One of the things I love about people watching is the internal guessing game of who they really are and what they’re up to. I’d like to imagine they’re all poets–wishful thinking, but wouldn’t it be wonderful? You caught some fabulous stuff in your piece. The smokey morse code stuck with me–nice touch.