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All You Leave Behind

By: Loryne Andawey

By Loryne AndaweyPublished about a year ago β€’ 1 min read
Top Story - February 2023
120
All You Leave Behind
Photo by Subtle Cinematics on Unsplash

If you were to ask me for a portrait painted with the finest of oils, I would render you with a metaphor instead

and I would call you the ocean -

one that laps along the length of a lonely shore heavy from the weight of the tide

where, upon subsiding, you take with you an edge of sand.

Oftentimes, you leave a tangle behind -

that or driftwood or detritus.

And when you do, all the little creatures would come out to clean and carry it away.

And then there are days when you leave pretty things.

Mainly they are shells that catch the sun in ways the rocks on the beach never could -

that or scales from the many-hued fish or the stately plumage from migrating birds.

They colour the paleness of the sand with charms and delights

until you reach out with a wave,

for all the pretty things you leave behind: the shells, the scales, the plumage,

all of them are yours.

And you keep them where you keep the sand you take from the lonely shore;

from so many lonely shores.

Lately your waves have been empty -

that or the beach is now too thin to bear the tangles, driftwood and detritus, or any of your pretty things

save for the foam of your sigh;

if you remember to leave that at all.

But sometimes you forget and leave a pearl behind.

And when you do, all the little creatures would rush out to admire it for as long as they could

until your waves come back again.

nature poetrysad poetry
120

About the Creator

Loryne Andawey

Health, Happiness & Abundance.

Currently enjoying the company of Francis, Mike, C.H., Gammastack, Michelle, Cosimo, Kristen, Bronson, Bella, Talia, Sean, Babs, Kelli, Rick, Dharrsheena, Heather, Gina and many, many more!

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  2. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  3. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  1. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  2. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

  3. Expert insights and opinions

    Arguments were carefully researched and presented

  4. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  5. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

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Comments (73)

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  • Ken_kudu2 months ago

    Nice write-up dear

  • Kevin Miles6 months ago

    This was truly beautiful!!!

  • Alex H Mittelman 9 months ago

    I love the imagery of this! Good work! πŸ¦‹

  • Mackenzie Davis10 months ago

    Holy crap, this is gorgeous. The metaphor here is working so hard and so well. I want to cry at all the emotions. 😭 ❀️

  • Wow! I see why you were second place in that challenge! The metaphor of the ocean sometimes leaving things on the shores, sometimes leaving pretty things, and those things creating beauty where it otherwise wasn't necessarily... really loved that image! This was amazing, well done!

  • PK Colleranabout a year ago

    Gorgeous writing. Love your lyrical title.

  • Gina Calleaabout a year ago

    this is beautiful, congratulations.

  • Denelsia Walkerabout a year ago

    Congratulations πŸŽ‰πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•

  • Congratulations πŸŽ‰

  • Gurulathan Sabout a year ago

    Congratulations...

  • Abdul Razackabout a year ago

    Well done!

  • Ahna Lewisabout a year ago

    Beautiful! <3

  • Donna Reneeabout a year ago

    😭. I came back to read this again as it is just so eloquently done and such a sad and beautiful rendering of losing yourself in a relationship. At least, that’s what it means to me. πŸ₯°

  • Kendall Defoe about a year ago

    Good work!

  • Winner grace!!about a year ago

    super

  • Rick Henry Christopher about a year ago

    Beautiful work! Congratulations on the win!

  • Tiffany Gordon about a year ago

    gorgeous work! Congratulations! πŸŽ‰

  • J. Delaney-Howeabout a year ago

    Beautiful work!

  • kpabout a year ago

    Absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for this piece. I will think about the precious pearl left by your beloved subject and their now empty waves. Beautiful work that leaves me wondering in awe at the depth of this metaphor.

  • KJ Aartilaabout a year ago

    Congrats! A truly beautiful poem. :)

  • Paul Stewartabout a year ago

    This is incredible! congrats!

  • Oneg In The Arcticabout a year ago

    An incredibly well written poem, really beautiful

  • Kelli Sheckler-Amsdenabout a year ago

    Congratulations πŸŽˆπŸŽ‰

  • Aphoticabout a year ago

    Wow, this is so eloquently written. You have a beautiful way with words and I could feel the pain in every line. Your imagery is striking. Just beautiful, great work!

  • And congratulations on your Top Story

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