The Salt Witch





wikimedia commons
TIDAL POOLS WITH REFLECTED LIGHT
Sennett, Tomas, Photographer (NARA record: 8464470)
Environmental Protection Agency. (12/02/1970 - )





I am a child of brine and sea water,
a witch born
in the tidal push.

A soft foam gathers at my head,
the crust of salt flaking off the moonskin
of night’s dreaming—

the meeting of sun and moon at tide’s edge
pushing closer
in their wayward time.

Perched upon each wave,
pushing inward,
     a bit of women’s salt,
pulling away each current,
     a bit of man’s silt.

The watch,
a fraction of heat
to move the salt home.



copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2013

posted for dverse poets openlinknight-week-96/
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Comments

  1. Brian MillerMay 14, 2013 at 2:00 PM

    the womans salt and mans silt...nice...and the heat in the friction there in the end...birthed on the pull of the tides works really cool as well...the motion the wave give the feel of birth...

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  2. ClaudiaMay 14, 2013 at 2:06 PM

    there's a nice heat in this...the pulling and pushing of the tides....women's salt--men's silt....very cool images

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  3. henna inkMay 14, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    Girl, this is amazing! I savored every word. Those first two stanzas gave me chills:

    "I am a child of brine and sea water, a witch born in the tidal push.

    A soft foam gathers at my head, the crust of salt flaking off the moonskin of night’s dreaming—"

    And then there was the magic in the third. And the fourth and fifth. Whew. My head is spinning from the blend of your salt/silt brew. You are gifted, my dear.

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    Replies
    1. Audrey Howitt aka DivaloungerMay 14, 2013 at 4:22 PM

      Thank you Henna Ink--I enjoyed your piece as well this week!!

      Delete
  4. TALONMay 14, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    The push and the pull...the rhythm of life. This was gorgeous.

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  5. UnknownMay 14, 2013 at 2:29 PM

    I adore this primal, sensual, connected-to-all-life poem.

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  6. Janine BolléeMay 14, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    Such movement, restrained and complex.

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  7. Susan DanielsMay 14, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    Audrey, this is as seductive as waves kissing sand. Wonderful!

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  8. GraceMay 14, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Like the waves, push and pull ~ There is creation - wonderful as the meeting of the sun and the moon ~

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  9. HannahMay 14, 2013 at 3:57 PM

    This is magical, Audrey!! I love the same part that Brian mentioned...because lately I've been thinking about male and female energy that resides in us all and what this means.

    Such beautiful writing!

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  10. Jennifer WagnerMay 14, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    Great imagery Audrey. I especially love that second stanza. Fantastic writing!

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  11. AnonymousMay 14, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    Did you draw your inspiration from the photo? After reading your poem, (a virtual delicacy from nature's garden, btw) I gazed upon the photo and before my eyes it actually pieced itself together.... Either I'm having a flashback from something really stupid I did in the 70's or this is an amazing poem.... ! Definitely write more like this one...

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  12. UnknownMay 14, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    This works so well. The images are very compelling and visceral. I like where you're headed in your poetry, becoming very elemental and shaving your words down to a shining, illuminated thing.

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    Replies
    1. Audrey Howitt aka DivaloungerMay 21, 2013 at 12:08 PM

      Thanks Charles--I am begining to feel this groove a bit better I think--Thanks!

      Delete
  13. MaryMay 14, 2013 at 5:50 PM

    Depthful and beautiful writing, Audrey. Love the imagery.

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  14. Maude LynnMay 14, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    "a bit of women’s salt,
    pulling away each current,
    a bit of man’s silt."

    Gorgeous, sensual work.

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  15. Dana DampierMay 14, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    The ocean is such a beautiful place to imagine such a birth... and to feel at home.

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  16. Laurie KolpMay 14, 2013 at 7:23 PM

    Gorgeous, Audrey. I feel at one with the ocean to.

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  17. Madeleine Begun KaneMay 14, 2013 at 10:10 PM

    Wonderful imagery!

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  18. anthonynorthMay 15, 2013 at 12:40 AM

    The imagery in this is excellent.

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  19. UnknownMay 15, 2013 at 2:02 AM

    Wonderful imaginative writing that creates clear imagery. I love your gendered use of salt and silt. Great writing!

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  20. brudbergMay 15, 2013 at 4:20 AM

    So beautiful.. you did real well and of course the silt and salt imagery stands out. I love it.

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  21. CynthiaMay 15, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    Beautiful as always! You know what this makes me think of? The Salt March that Gandhi did.

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  22. Sunday Reflections or Stumbling Towards Happiness by Bill HollandMay 15, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    What a wonderful metaphor....so beautiful, Audrey!

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  23. PoppySilverMay 15, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    Beautiful! I adore the imagery, a poem of absolute beauty, loved it xox

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  24. Linda RogersMay 15, 2013 at 9:57 AM

    Wonderful images of nature's ying and yang, salt and silt, man and woman. This had me thinking of Carl Jung's interpretation of the collective unconscious. Great poetry Audrey.

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  25. LauraMay 15, 2013 at 10:23 AM

    oh Audrey, how very beautiful!

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  26. mrs mediocrityMay 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM

    I love the tension in this, and the mystery... Fabulous imagery, I could see it!

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  27. flaubertMay 15, 2013 at 10:08 PM

    Audrey, your fourth stanza is gorgeous. I love the whole poem.

    Pamela

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  28. Rebecca MealeyMay 16, 2013 at 5:26 AM

    I love your poetry on Hubpages, and am delighted to follow your blog!

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  29. scotthastiepoetMay 16, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    Hiya Audrey, my first time here I think - courtesy of the wonderful d'Verse... Love the intensity of this as you conjure the power of 'The Salt Witch' The push and pull, the yin and yang, the male female - on a wave, a tide... Very well realised. With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com

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  30. UnknownMay 16, 2013 at 8:31 AM

    Wonderful Audrey and I now look forward to so many more visits.
    Enjoy your day.
    Eddy.

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  31. RasmaSandraMay 17, 2013 at 12:17 AM

    Really nice Audrey. A walk among dreams. Loved this.

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  32. Candi MorrowMay 17, 2013 at 12:54 PM

    Wonderful read Audrey, what a beautiful picture.

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  33. ayalaMay 17, 2013 at 4:57 PM

    Great imagery, Audrey. Beautifully penned.

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  34. AlexandraMay 18, 2013 at 6:15 AM

    Intense and inspired! The imagery is seductive and powerful and I loved every word.

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  35. Sherry Blue SkyMay 18, 2013 at 9:10 AM

    Oh my goodness, this is brilliant, and is my new favorite of your poems.

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  36. UnknownMay 21, 2013 at 7:27 PM

    It put me in the mind of giving birth.

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