Sandpiper (Cavatina)
(after Elizabeth Bishop)
The leaping spray that roar, the swishing fling
of surf and sand,
plays in and out as waves rush to and thro;
where it does stand
while searching for something on tiny legs;
it understands
the roaring toss, a world of surf and foam,
while rushing on the wet beach it does roam.
[Reference: 'Sandpiper' by Elizabeth Bishop.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Related quotes
All my life I have lived and behaved very much like the sandpiper - just running down the edges of different countries and continents, 'looking for something'.
quote by Elizabeth Bishop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sandpiper
The roaring waves that is shaking the beach
the hissing surf that shines like glass
is part of its world and continually it is just out of reach
where wave upon wave is passing as it runs fast
and it is quick on little brittle dark feet
where sucking small sand grains
sweep in and out and water foams on sheet upon sheet
and there the rushing little bird remains
while its world is at times filled with vapour
and then again suddenly clear
it is focussing on things minutely small while waters roar
are drawing very near
it is continually searching for some allure
it runs and runs on little feet that are sure
poem by Gert Strydom
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The Surf Talks
Oooh I love you
Giggle giggle
The surf talks
Do you love me too?
If the surf could talk, I know shed ask
Do you think youre equal to the task?
If the surf could talk, shed say
Beware I love you
So Id answer very carefully
And Id ask if shed be there for me
And the surf says always
Beware I love you
The surf says I want you like you want me
Am I in you? are you in me?
Tell me
The surf talks
And it knows what to say
The surf talks
I must learn to obey
The gun cocks, the clock stops, the earth rocks, the surf talks
The surf talks
Puts its tongue on my skin
The surf talks
While its sucking me in
The door locks and unlocks, the veil drops, the surf talks
She has promised me a beach of pearls
And an endless wave, a perfect curl
And she tells me always
Beware I love you
She will place the world inside my hand
She will touch the soul of every man
She will take my message
Im here to love you
The surf says I want you here inside me
Am I in you? are you in me?
Tell me
We are standing on a beach of pearls
We are riding deep inside the curl
And everybody all around the world
Must surrender when your flag unfurls
We are standing on a beach of pearls
We are riding deep inside the curl
And everybody all around the world
Will be dancing in the sea.
song performed by by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What childishness is it that while there's breath of life in our bodies, we are determined to rush to see the sun the other way around?
quote by Elizabeth Bishop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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False Bay (Collins sestet)
(after Matthew Arnold)
Tonight over the sea there are small lights,
Cape Town against Table Mountain lying bright
where it is flat against the evening sky
and in the distance a liner passes by
while the surging spray breaks over False Bay,
forevermore on Africa waves toss and play.
The stream of life did into the sea go
with joy, grace and hope in its ebb and flow
but debris, broken pieces are washed ashore
with pollution caught in the breaking roar
while the surging spray breaks over False Bay,
forevermore on Africa waves toss and play.
Stars sparkle and the light wind furls through your hair
while on the beach we are the only pair
and you swear to be true eternally,
a bright beacon in the darkness we see
while the surging spray breaks over False Bay,
forevermore on Africa waves toss and play.
[Reference: “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Seabirds
Mighty waves come crashing down,
The spray is lashing high into the eagles eye
Shrieking as it cuts the devil wind,
Is calling sailors to the deep
But I can hear the sound of seabirds in my ear
Surf is high an the sea is awash
An a haze of candy floss, glitter and beads
Rock that we sat on and watched in the sun
That was hot to touch
And the sea was emerald green
I can hear the sound of seabirds in my ear
And I can see you smile
Surf comes rushing up the beach
Now will it reach the castle wall and will it fall
Catfish dappled silver flashing
Dogfish puffing bubbles in my deep
song performed by by Pink Floyd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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He Miss The Old Town
He miss the old town by the ocean and he misses the smell of the sea
And in his moments of nostalgia in fancy he hear and see
The silver gulls above the wide beach in small flocks they call as they fly
And the soft pipings of the sooty oystercatchers echo in the clear morning sky.
He was a young man of the sixties and young men they age and grow old
All year round he rode the big surf waves in a wet suit to keep out the cold
Till he wandered far from the ocean fell in love, married and settled down
An ageing dad with teenage daughters he lives in a big inland Town.
He is out of practice for surfing and he lives far from the ocean shore
A champion young surfer of the sixties perhaps he will surf never more
You can take the man from the ocean but the ocean does not leave the man
Though far from the roar of the surf waves he well may live out his time span.
He miss the old town by the ocean though he now might feel a stranger there
A champion young surfer of the late sixties till lust for wander it took him to elsehwere
in his imaginings he rides the big waves and on his face the ocean spray
And at heart he is a coastal person though from there he lives far away.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Surfin'
Surfin' is the only life
The only way for me.
Now surf, surf (surfin') with me
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Surfin' is the only life
The only way for me.
Now surf, surf (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip
Bom bom dit di dit dip
Bom bom dit di dit dip
Bom bom dit di dit dip
I got up this mornin' turned on my radio
I was checkin' on the surfin' scene
To see if i would go
And when the dj tells me that the surfin' is fine
That's when i know my baby and i will have a good time
Surfin' is the only life
The only way for me.
Now surf, surf (surfin') with me
From the early morning to the middle of the night
Any time the surf is up the time is right
And when the surf is down and things get lazy
We'll do the surfer's stomp that's when the surfers go crazy
Surfin' is the only life
The only way for me.
Now surf, surf (surfin') with me
Now the dawn is breaking and we really gotta go
But we'll be back here very soon that you better know
You know my surfer knots are rising and my board is losing wax
(yeah yeah hey now)
But that won't stop me baby cause you know i'm coming back
Surfin' is the only life
The only way for me.
Now surf, surf (surfin') with me
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Surfin' is the only life the only way for me
Now come on pretty baby and surf with me
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
Bom bom dit di dit dip (surfin')
song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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As We Walked Upon The Unspoiled Beach
As we walked upon the unspoiled beach
the sea touching our feet swept in and out,
rushing water swept our tracks out of reach
and we laughed and splashed and did shout.
Around us little crabs rushed with their shells,
while the waters was rushing higher in the bay,
we were caught, captured in the sea’s magical spell
but with the rising water could not any longer stay
as the water in splashing spray did rise and swell
to escape the rising danger, to much higher we went
as the sea was coming in, its salty odour we did smell
while we did wander in the surf to our heart’s content.
we found some tranquillity, did our love renew
on a rock surf splashed, falling on us like dew.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Table Bay (Cavatina Sequence)
(after Matthew Arnold)
The sea lies flat like a huge lake tonight
but for the spray
that is endlessly sweeping in and out
on the white bay,
some couples walk on the beach
on holiday;
holding their hands under a yellow moon,
some bright beacons and stars will be out soon.
In the distance Table Mountain rises
its huge old bulk,
is gigantic black and flat against the sky
like a ship's hulk
where it marks the African continent;
sails of yachts sulk
as they lie limp in the windless great harbour
while tranquil people are home from labour.
Lights gleam far away at sea, are passing,
with a long lost
feeling of the great endlessness; as waves
fling, churn and toss
the hopes, fears and happiness of nations;
the great-great cost
of ending impoverishment, the ills
of vast centuries as destiny wills.
At a time faith and the will to be great,
did flow to sea,
like rivers in torrents that did rush in;
people were free
from the wars on the great black continent,
no destiny
could harass the nations, the pyramids,
that any living it now does forbid.
Like waves endlessly crushing on the beach,
and never spent
drawing back again, rushing to and thro
the sheer moment
between us has something that is lasting;
evanescent,
with some joys in our mutual discourse
life also flows to its ultimate course.
[Reference: 'Dover Beach' by Matthew Arnold.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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We walked on the beach
We walked on the beach
my shadow and I.
Rocks protruded
out of the sand
and a big ship passed by.
The tide was high
and the angry sea crashed
and slapped spray
upon the rocks.
a Strong wind scratched
me with buckets full of sand
and I wondered what had happened
to a perfect day at the beach,
but later the wind died down.
a Single gull surfed the air
and suddenly it wasn’t there
and only the green sea,
the white-hot sun,
surf crashing on the beach
and I remained.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Another Near To Perfect Day
In the sky the sun brightly shining the blue sky with some clouds of gray
On an afternoon in late October another near to perfect day
The white surf waves are gently rolling one reason no surfer in sight
And the silver gulls on the white beach search for food in the warm sunlight
An artist may well sketch such beauty and writers about it may write
By the coastal town on the surf beach there is beauty in peace and quiet
Today the ocean is not roaring no big waves for surfers to ride
The waves on the beach gently lapping so timid the sea at low tide
In the park the magpie larks calling the only notes they sing pee wee
And wattlebirds on the flowering coastal banksias their harsh calls familiar to me
On a beautiful day in the Springtime of around 24 degrees
And there is a cool sort of freshness in the cool freshening coastal breeze
Save for the silver gulls the beach is deserted and so clean is the fresh coastal air
A good memory to keep and to cherish and a good memory with others to share.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Sandpiper
The roaring alongside he takes for granted,
and that every so often the world is bound to shake.
He runs, he runs to the south, finical, awkward,
in a state of controlled panic, a student of Blake.
The beach hisses like fat. On his left, a sheet
of interrupting water comes and goes
and glazes over his dark and brittle feet.
He runs, he runs straight through it, watching his toes.
- Watching, rather, the spaces of sand between them
where (no detail too small) the Atlantic drains
rapidly backwards and downwards. As he runs,
he stares at the dragging grains.
The world is a mist. And then the world is
minute and vast and clear. The tide
is higher or lower. He couldn't tell you which.
His beak is focussed; he is preoccupied,
looking for something, something, something.
Poor bird, he is obsessed!
The millions of grains are black, white, tan, and gray
mixed with quartz grains, rose and amethyst.
poem by Elizabeth Bishop
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The Sea Loving People
The true sea loving people never live far from the sea
They pine if the ocean they can't hear or see
The feel of the sea spray where the wild breakers roar
Where huge waves pound the stony cliffs overlooking the shore.
They can only live near to where the surf waves roll
And to them the breath of the sea air is good for the soul
In towns by the ocean they grow old and gray
From salt-water they could not live far away.
The sea loving people enjoy the coastal sunshine
Inland from the ocean they surely would pine
To live two miles from the ocean for them does seem far
Though in distance that only a short drive by car.
The sea loving people love the rumble of the big surf waves
In cemetery close to the cliffs are their ancestors graves
They would pine if they could not hear the sea breakers roar
They only could live in towns near the Sea-shore.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The whole shadow of Man is only as big as his hat.
quote by Elizabeth Bishop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Closing Arguments (Interlude/Skit)
In closing, ladies and gentlemen of the jury
I'm not gonna sit here and bore you with a long, drawn out story
or excuse, of why I think Wyclef is guilty
I'm gonna stand by the exhibits as well as the tapes
And songs such as Jeapordy, Til Novemeber, All the Girls,
and Bubblegoose, which stand side by side with my allegations
I rest my case
OK, uhh, ladiessss, and gentle-men, of the juwy
As you can see nuttin has been proven here today
DEEZ witnesses dey brought ere don't not have evidence
to incriminate my client eh?
If he's not guilty he's innocent
If he's not detrimental to the society therefore he positive!
As I say before, dis case is pure bishop
Your honor see, this, this is exactly what I'm talkin about
I mean I've been meaning to ask this the whole time
Who the hell is Bishop?
Eh?
And and why the hell hasn't he been brought on the stand?
Bishop, bishop, not true, false, bishop
Ohh, bullshit!
Oui
song performed by by Wyclef Jean
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Closing Arguments
In closing, ladies and gentlemen of the jury
I'm not gonna sit here and bore you with a long, drawn out story
Or excuse, of why i think wyclef is guilty
I'm gonna stand by the exhibits as well as the tapes
And songs such as jeapordy, til novemeber, all the girls,
And bubblegoose, which stand side by side with my allegations
I rest my case
Ok, uhh, ladiessss, and gentle-men, of the juwy
As you can see nuttin has been proven here today
Deez witnesses dey brought ere don't not have evidence
To incriminate my client eh?
If he's not guilty he's innocent
If he's not detrimental to the society therefore he positive!
As i say before, dis case is pure bishop
Your honor see, this, this is exactly what i'm talkin about
I mean i've been meaning to ask this the whole time
Who the hell is bishop?
Eh?
And and why the hell hasn't he been brought on the stand?
Bishop, bishop, not true, false, bishop
Ohh, bullshit!
Oui
song performed by by Wyclef Jean
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Constantly Waves Toss And Fling (Persian / Rubiyat Quatrains)
Constantly waves toss and fling,
with water and sand are covering
the outstretched white shell filled beach
as more and more tiny grains they bring
and this process is present night and day,
as waters roll out in the bay
while seagulls sandpipers peck around
screech run and play.
poem by Gert Strydom
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With Leaping Spray The Sea Explodes
With leaping spray the sea explodes
against a rock, explodes again
just as before with surf
that constantly leaps and fall
while a grove of pines are near to the shore,
and once more the spray
rises up into the air
and fall at my feet like rain.
In my thoughts you are back,
again I feel your soft hand in mine,
as we once had walked along this beach,
but it is only memories of a distant past.
No illness where you could beg in mercy,
could find a new kind of faith,
was offered you and far too suddenly
destiny shattered what we had.
I have a kind of life,
where at times I try to forget
but it’s to no avail as remembering
always comes back.
The waves of the sea still leaps in vain,
coming down in a shower
and you were here and you are gone
while I have pain; life goes on like before.
poem by Gert Strydom
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The pigs stuck out their little feet and snored.
quote by Elizabeth Bishop
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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