Homo(graph) Erectus

On the harbour wall I notice
an appealing notice,
a poster advertising
trips to see the seals.
I seal my lips and harbour
memories of selkies,
magical creatures with tails
instead of legs.

I imagine colonies of mermen
bobbing in the waves,
inviting me to join them
as they follow in the wake.

But then I wake from my daydream
and wave goodbye to romance;
a dalliance with selkies
would be a grave mistake,
for I am upright, with two legs
and two feet to ground me,
hold me safely, feel the ground
firm beneath my toes.

I can only dream of swimming
and diving with the selkies,
rising from the depths
to greet them nose to nose.

Kim M. Russell, 16th March 2019

Image result for selkies Pinterest
Image found on Pinterest

My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Weekend Mini-Challenge: Homographic Fun

Magaly is our host this weekend and she invites us to play with homographs: words which have the same spelling but rather different meanings.

She asks us to write a new poem that includes one or more homographs, as well as using at least two of the homograph’s meanings or using it in a way that allows two of its meanings to apply. Magaly has even supplied a cloud full of homographs to choose from!

26 thoughts on “Homo(graph) Erectus”

  1. But then I wake from my daydream
    and wave goodbye to romance;
    a dalliance with selkies
    would be a grave mistake…

    I love how these lines sound! So musical, and the perfect style for this tale of selkies.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. First, your title is a glorious delight of words and a breeder of imagery. And second and third (and probably more), I love this poem. Your expert weaving of myth and dream and surreality shapes a world that feels touchable. By the time I got to the end, I could feel the chill of a selkie’s nose pressed against my own.

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  9. Homographs galore! I loved this wordplay with its natural rhythm and music — it reminded me of the sound of the sea in the evenings and how its mysteries call out to us as it turns darker and lighter at the same time.

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  12. I wonder if the Selkies are akin to mermaids. This is the first I had heard of these creatures. Fun reading, you did well with your assortment.
    ..

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  13. I love your poem, such playful ideas, “a dalliance with selkies.” And thank you for your comment on my poem, Climate Change, you always get what I hope you will got!! Go right to it, like a dog with a scent.

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