[Jayne Osborn]

I can relate to this. I was 9 years old when I first saw the sea. A deprived childhood? Well, partly, but the best thing about it is that I can still remember the thrill of the experience; not many people can say that.

Jayne

The Oldie Competition
by Tessa Castro

Competition No 205
At the age of 34, King George III, they say, had never seen the sea. A poem, from whatever perspective, please, called ‘To See the Sea’. Maximum sixteen lines.

Entries, by post (The Oldie, 23/31 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PA) or e-mail comps@theoldie.co.uk – don’t forget to include your postal address), to ‘Competition No 205’ by 22nd July 2016.

[Roger Slater]

To See the Sea

To see the sea takes eyes, you see,
but see what you will see:
the billowing foam,
the killer whale's home,
the toilet where tuna fish pee,

and so I advise, just look with your eyes
but never go swim in the sea,
for the fish never quit
turning plankton to shit
and the porpoises vomit with glee.

[Jayne Osborn]

Haha. That was quick, Bob, or was it one you already had?

I like swimming in the sea . . . well, I used to . . . I'm not so sure now!

Jayne

[Roger Slater]

Originally Posted by Jayne Osborn

Haha. That was quick, Bob, or was it one you already had?

I like swimming in the sea . . . well, I used to . . . I'm not so sure now!

Jayne

Thanks, Jayne. No, it's brand new, written in the minutes before posting. I love swimming in the ocean, though I usually find it too cold.

[Roger Slater]

TO SEE THE SEA

You ask me how to see the sea?
Go the shore, and there it will be,

a floor beneath the dome of sky,
the Earth's reproach to all that's dry,

as huge as things on Earth can get,
and every millimeter wet,

then take a seat upon the sand
and banish every thought of land

and let the ocean fill your view
till nothing but the sea is true.

[Erik Olson]

To See the Sea: For the Navy Recruiters

'A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD' sells fantasy.
If you look from the quarter-deck below
You'll see the utmost human misery.
What filth! What crowds! Your ships move much too slow.
d

[Erik Olson]

To See The Sea

I traced a Beach along, and waded
Till out of nowhere she upbraided
‘Get off my Private Property!’
I said ‘The Beach and Sea are free.
To claim the Sand on which I plod
You're bold, Mrs., for you trespass God.’

k

[Charlie Southerland]

Sea Legs to See the Sea With


If I give all my love to one or the other
why should you care who it is my mother?

I take my leave in the morn for the coast
to whale on a ship in the harbor named Ghost.

In the spray of the sea at the top of the mast,
I spot him basking in the waves at last.

We tack to the north where the cold is hard
and chase the white (from the nest) I guard,

where he spouts water mixed with icy spume
as high as the mizzen; we watch it bloom.

Our boats come to bear on the humping whale.
Harpoons are cast at his sides but they fail.

And still I give all my love to the sea
and the girls in the harbor of Ghost, at Lee.

[Erik Olson]

Effaced as no good.

[Brian Allgar]

Erik, I'm afraid that 'Gloucester' isn't even a slant rhyme with 'cure'. It's pronounced 'Gloster', to rhyme with 'foster' or 'roster'.

'Banner-waving' needs a hyphen.

'Argot' is pronounce 'ARgo', and doesn't rhyme with 'what'.

And you've used both 'town' and 'crown' twice as end-rhymes.

Apart from that, I'm having difficulty working out the meaning in several places ...

Sorry to be so nitty.