What the Sea Saw
Listen to Morna reading her poem ...
Mr Sea, what did you see today?
I saw horses galloping on the beach
Dancing across the sand with dainty tip-toed feet.
I saw dogs playing chaseys with their pals
Giggling and laughing as they barked.
I saw children building sandcastles
Searching for shells, seeking out crabs in rock-pools.
Mr Sea, what did you touch today?
I felt ships bobbing on my waves
As I held them afloat on their long voyages.
I touched thousands of fish, swimming through my depths
Tickling me as they swam deeper and deeper into my pockets.
I felt wind surfers gliding over my crests
Skimming the surface, smoothly.
Mr Sea, what did you hear today?
I heard tinkling laughter on the beach as families
Played games and ate picnics full of sand.
I heard the wind howling like a hungry lion
I heard the seagulls squawking above ships
I heard the ferry’s funnel sound loud blasts
To tell everyone they’re on their way.
Mr Sea, what did you taste today?
I tasted greasy, black, sticky oil spilt from a tanker
It made me feel sick as it lay on top of me.
I tasted nasty rubbish dumped on the shore
I licked rusty supermarket trolleys and old tyres
I tasted sharp salty salt – in every breath
I took deep breaths and my spray tasted of salt.
Mr Sea, what did you smell today?
I smelled the fresh air as the wind blew
Gusting through the waves, laughing, puffing
I smelled strawberry ice cream and fish n’ chips
Hot dogs, cappuccinos, muffins and sandwiches
I sniffed seaweed, shells and driftwood
I smelled my salty breath and blew back in to shore.
I saw horses galloping on the beach
Dancing across the sand with dainty tip-toed feet.
I saw dogs playing chaseys with their pals
Giggling and laughing as they barked.
I saw children building sandcastles
Searching for shells, seeking out crabs in rock-pools.
Mr Sea, what did you touch today?
I felt ships bobbing on my waves
As I held them afloat on their long voyages.
I touched thousands of fish, swimming through my depths
Tickling me as they swam deeper and deeper into my pockets.
I felt wind surfers gliding over my crests
Skimming the surface, smoothly.
Mr Sea, what did you hear today?
I heard tinkling laughter on the beach as families
Played games and ate picnics full of sand.
I heard the wind howling like a hungry lion
I heard the seagulls squawking above ships
I heard the ferry’s funnel sound loud blasts
To tell everyone they’re on their way.
Mr Sea, what did you taste today?
I tasted greasy, black, sticky oil spilt from a tanker
It made me feel sick as it lay on top of me.
I tasted nasty rubbish dumped on the shore
I licked rusty supermarket trolleys and old tyres
I tasted sharp salty salt – in every breath
I took deep breaths and my spray tasted of salt.
Mr Sea, what did you smell today?
I smelled the fresh air as the wind blew
Gusting through the waves, laughing, puffing
I smelled strawberry ice cream and fish n’ chips
Hot dogs, cappuccinos, muffins and sandwiches
I sniffed seaweed, shells and driftwood
I smelled my salty breath and blew back in to shore.
This poem is copyright (©) Morna Sullivan 2024
About the Writer
Morna Sullivan
Morna Sullivan has always had a love of stories and has been reading and writing stories and poems since she could read and write. She is a member of the Coney Island Writers Group and a SCWBI member regularly attending the Belfast chapter meetings. She has recently taken over as SCBWI Regional Advisor (Ireland) leading a team of volunteers supporting children’s writers and illustrators across Ireland.
