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That day the wind spun off the sea
And blew us close. We walked the rough
Geometry of boardwalk before
The boarded shells of summer pastimes.
The iced bones of the Ferris wheel
Circled above our heads; inside
The pavilion we kissed between the stalled
Merry-go-round and the lifeless pinball.
Then down and out to the water’s edge
Where gulls watched silent from the pilings
As we left two still trails across
The sea’s junkyard in their winter keeping.
Among the torn rags of weed and claw
You found a perfect curve of shell
Which somehow held us both alive
And soft in its smooth pearl hollow.
© by Nils Peterson.
Used with the author’s permission.
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Nils Peterson was selected as the first Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County. back in 2009. He is now Professor Emeritus at San Jose State University, where he taught in the English and Humanities departments. Nils has published three collections of poetry and several chapbooks, as well as a bit of science fiction and articles on subjects as varied as golf and Shakespeare. His memoir about his friendship and work with Robert Bly is The Dear Time of Our Talking (2020), and another memoir, Talk in the Reading Room (wordrunnerpress, 2014) can be read at http://www.echapbook.com/memoir/peterson/. Nils' latest book, My Dinner with Nils, is a compelling collection of poems, memoir bits, essays, and "memorable fancies," as he puts it.
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C King Stephens:
I'm glad I sent you that beautiful shell from Oxford Mississippi last June. And talked of textures on the beach with Judith.
Posted 02/15/2016 10:42 AM
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Dorcas:
"...in its smooth pearl hollow" - how delightful. Thanks.
Posted 02/15/2016 09:03 AM
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jtmilford:
The day the wind spun off the sea and blew us close. I was captured at the beginning. Beautiful Thanks
Posted 02/14/2016 08:52 PM
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Shoshauna Shy:
A joy to read this.....thank you, Nils.
Posted 02/14/2016 08:35 PM
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Lori Levy:
I agree with all the comments below!
Posted 02/14/2016 05:55 PM
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Mary Lou Taylor:
Nils' memoir is a wonderful compilation of some of his poems turned to prose. Do read it.
Posted 02/14/2016 04:02 PM
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phebe.davidson@gmail.com:
Beautifully done---very real, not a hint of saccharin anywhere!
Posted 02/14/2016 11:41 AM
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Ginny C.:
This wonderful poem drew me right in. It is loving without being overly sentimental, and the imagery is fresh. I especially love the last stanza.
Posted 02/14/2016 10:48 AM
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Judith Peterson:
I remember this day very well. Nils and I are lying in bed having coffee-- what a glorious valentine to get after 55 years of marriage! Judith Peterson
Posted 02/14/2016 10:00 AM
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Jo:
Beautiful Poem, Nils from the first line which drew me in immediately...That day the wind spun off the sea/And blew us close--
Posted 02/14/2016 09:48 AM
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Laurenepersons:
"The iced bones of the Ferris wheel"--how perfectly evocative!
Posted 02/14/2016 05:44 AM
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Katrina:
The beauty of this poem seems almost stolen.
Posted 02/14/2016 05:00 AM
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