The Ocean When Still, a 5 O’Clock Poem by Stephen Fuller, with audio

The ocean when still, beautiful like blown glass, feels like death. Ocean, move! remind me of the living – your rhythm like that of the heart we fortunate ones have within a pulse of God proof of something greater than this life. I stop breathe in the sea air that brings oxygen to steel flesh we fortunate ones live within each rush of blood past skin that protects us from something far greater. I could become the red arid dust of Mars; I could become the toxic gas of Venus and vie with the moon for your affection at night. Here we see what the end might be: calm, beautiful. The arbitrary throb of wind that builds crests, tosses us into troughs, like vengeance for sins committed. The ocean when still, beautiful like blown glass, reminds me of death. Even the smallest of waves seeks out light from their elders: celestial myths, how they glow, but life glows too, and in so doing, punishes the stars drowning their wisdom in radiant pollution, things we think we need right now alight. This glow to starboard – Cuba – Cabo Maisi – flashing white every 5 seconds to guide us along this vein into the organ that calls to us. The ocean enraged channels sailors lost in want of a final kiss or debtor’s gold mourning their failure. The ocean enraged howls through the mast like screams of stolen men, weary to end suffering, casting their lot to sharks. The ocean when still, beautiful like blown glass, feels like death.
Written while at sea in the Caribbean in 2012.
(C) 2012 Stephen Fuller
39 Responses to “The Ocean When Still, a 5 O’Clock Poem by Stephen Fuller, with audio”
Loved hearing you read this, Stephen! It makes the piece feel more personal.
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Thank you Tanya… thinking of making it a new thang
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It is a good thang. 😂😂😂
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What’s your thang
Do what you gotta do!
What’s your thang!!!
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Do the next right thang
Like Anna, when Olaf’s gone
Do the next right thang
💙☃️❄️
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Oh god… oh god… not a frozen reference! Oh god… oh god…
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Absolutely beautiful and raw. I love the repetition in this piece. This is amazing!
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Thank you Lucy so very much. These are really awesome words to read. 🤓
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A beautiful poem Stephen.
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Thank you so so much Sadje
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You’re welcome 😉
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🤓🧼🖐🙏🖐🧼🙏🤓
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👍👍😉
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I enjoyed this! You read very well.
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Thank you very much Liz. My little devil perfectionist noted an error in one of the last stanzas, but after a couple of tries I like this one best and went with it.
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Serendipity!
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🙂
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F😷c😷i😷g masterful!!!!
Bravo friend thanks for sharing
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🤓🧼🖐🙏🖐🧼🤓
And 😝 at your censoring!
Thank you so much!
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Lol you’re very welcome friend lol
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🤓
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I loved this, and now I’m longing to inhale some sea air. Hopefully travel will be a possibility soon!
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Hopefully! If travel were possible on a boat alone at sea might be the only way to be at sea… no cruises for me! 😆
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Agreed, I’ll be passing on cruise vacations as well!
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Not that they were ever high on the list!
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Loved this. The repetition echoing the motion and sound of a still sea. Absolutely beautiful.
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Thank you so much for these kind thoughts. I am very glad that you enjoyed this. 🤓🧼🖐🙏🖐🧼🤓
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Wow! When read aloud the poem takes on so much meaning. I love the repetition, which that stanza in itself is intriguing.
Life ebbs and flows, doesn’t it?
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Thank you Eugi. That stanza really reflects a deep respect that I learned for the ocean. The stillness of it is so beautiful, but… it hides a menacing power and depths of history…
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That it does.
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🤓
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Great poem! Love the lines “Ocean, move! / remind me of the living–”
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Thank you!!!
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Love the repeating stanza, it adds a gravity to the whole.
It is a disconcerting thing, to see her glassy calm, and you did great continuing that tone.
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Thank you so much. There certainly is a trust and respect that one must develop for the ocean. Thank you for being here.
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This is epic. And haunting. I really love it.
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Thank you very much V!
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It’s dense and magic, and I need to keep reading it 😊
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I really like this one, and agree there is a lot packed into it… how are ya?
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