CRADLING THE OCEAN
Out from behind this mask
thoughts
rise. From fathomless deeps,
thoughts
on the beach at night
rise from fathomless deeps.
Out of the rolling ocean,
tears
shadow. My likeness
tears
out from behind the mask
the terrible doubt of appearances
from fathomless deeps
on the beach at night alone.
To the east and to the west,
a glimpse
of the rolling ocean.
To the east and to the west,
a glimpse
of the terrible doubt of appearances.
From behind this mask,
shadow my likeness.
Rise from fathomless deeps,
whoever you are holding me now.
METHOD: Methods include searching for titles or phrases that I like and looking for themes within them. There is a lot of copying and pasting involved; and many drafts are drawn up. To me, writing found poetry is like a puzzle with multiple end results. It is a very rewarding creative endeavor that has gotten me out of dry spells time and time again.
Laurie Kolp is the author of the Upon the Blue Couch and Hello, It’s Your Mother. Some of her found poems and centos have been published in North Dakota Quarterly, concis, Prelude, Deep Water Journal, After the Pause, and Whale Road Review. Laurie lives in southeast Texas with her three children and two dogs.