Out on my board on a stormy day
On the waves of a towering height,
Better use care so the locals say
And keep the guards in sight.
Rips and tides trapped many men
With luck some made escape
So, locals warn again and again
With a point to a distant cape.
Where smashed surf boards, a scary sight
Could be found on a day like today.
For the ocean always wins the fight
So, it’s best to stay away.
But I was an expert, they were told
So, all should have no fears.
And I faced the ocean standing bold
While my girl implored with tears.
Paddling out I looked back proud
As the ocean beckoned come,
And I shouted out a challenge loud
While the surf beat an urgent drum.
I rode the wave, went out again
and repeated the ride once more,
And frowned at the urgent wave of Ben
My brother on yonder shore.
Turning around I gasped surprise
At the change in the angry sea,
For the coming wave was twice the size
And it had it sights on me
And it swept me out, and it sucked me in
As I held to my board in fright.
With a quick hand wave in the ocean din
And the hope of a guard in sight.
But the raging surf, a dangerous place
As the guards looked on alarmed,
No rational guard should have to face
Such forces and be harmed.
The raging sea now forward me swept
To a path toward yonder cape
Where the waiting rocks their vigil kept,
And I saw ‘twas no escape.
Then from the shore through battering wave
And the tempest blasts came they,
For the guards take risks poor souls to save
As endangered surfers pray.
They fought the tempest, wave and tide
As they rowed their way to land,
And dragged me to my family’s side
While my girlfriend held my hand.
The following day I saw on the cape
The result of my foolish pride,
I thought of my sobering close escape
On the day I almost died.
“© Copyright Ian Grice 2017 All rights reserved”
The above image is the property of cliparts.co
ianscyberspace 
Wow!! I like it so much…
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Thank you for visiting
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Welcome 🙂
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Hoe many people have died by not needing warnings? This has a happy ending/
On Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 4:58 PM, ianscyberspace wrote:
> ianscyberspace posted: ” Out on my board on a stormy day On the waves of a > towering height, Better use care so the locals say And keep the guards in > sight. Rips and tides trapped many men With luck some made escape So, > locals warn again and again With a point to ” >
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Thanks for visiting. We live very near prime surfing beaches and there’s always the occasional person who feels they can make their own rules and find themselves in trouble. We also have a series of old volcanic core peaks on the coast similar to Rio. There are signs warning people not to climb on certain sides of the peaks but people do it and it’s difficult to rescue them by helicopter if they’re hurt. Foolishness like this endangers the rescue personnel.
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Great poem Ian, your words rolling as the ocean does. We have just come back from a holiday in Lisbon where we sat watching the surfers braving the Atlantic. Georgie was also out in the Lakes with his family last Sunday on an adventure day. The beaches in Lisbon were staffed with life guards and in the Lakes the rescue team were heading out to try and find a climber who had not returned. These selfless souls risk their lives to help others every day, which begs the question when does a thrill cross the line? Hugs Xx
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Absolutely right. There should be penalties placed on those who endanger our lifeguards through reckless behaviour. In violent sea conditions or when there are notices to say don’t climb here it endangers the lives of our life guards when we don’t take notice.
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I love how you wrote this, Ian, with such an important message, too, but with also a happy ending. I couldn’t agree with you more after reading your reply to Eric. It’s frustrating when people let their thrill-seeking choices put others in danger. I also love how you compared the tranquility of the ocean to its swallowing-up ability. Great poem!
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I suppose we all do foolish things as we grow to maturity. I certainly did my fill of foolish things. It’s a learning experience, but it also affects others and we need to remember that. Hard to do when you’re a teenager! lol
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Excellent.
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Thank you. 🙂
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I love the way you dealt with the emotions of the surfer from bravado to fear of losing his life. I held my breath as he went under! It’s not a long poem but it says so much!
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Thank you Barb. 🙂
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I picked up and made my way through Barbarian Days by William Finnegan two yrs ago, a Pulitzer, not only to grab at the language, the interesting prose, but to throw myself into a world I knew nothing about. Just fascinating, these wave chasers. The ocean is an animal.
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If one knows the rules of nature they need to take them seriously and not choose to place themselves in harms way. :). The same ocean that can put you to sleep with its tranquillity can swallow up next day.
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Another lovely poem, Ian, and with a serious message too.
I care not for fools
They endanger others too
For a moments coup.
Cheers!
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I guess that was inspired by the foolishness of not only surfers in dangerous surf, but climbers who climb in places strictly prohibited because of past fatalities Eric. They endanger the lives of those who volunteer as lifeguards and helicopter pilots.
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