I found myself standing there once more, on the edge of infinity, staring off into the cold, blue expanse of water, never ending as the horizon seemed to be but a dream off in the distance. It was nice though, feeling the cool ocean breeze as it blew past my face calmly, sending a salty breath of air through my lungs as I breathed in deeply through my nose.1
Many times I stood there, staring out to the ocean...2
Oh, that's right. I haven't really given much as to where I was, have I?3
It's a place we've all been to before, at some point in our lives, although, for some it may look different.4
For me, this place, this expanse, it is but an island for me. A green island, surrounded by endless water, as the sun is eternally setting into the far-off seascape, casting a permanent shadow over my face, but at the same time keeping a permanent light cast faintly upon my brow.5
I stood atop a ridge that cropped out from the edge of a volcano's snoring mouth, a constant heat and faint line of smoke rising from it. I've been here often, as it seems one of the few places I can truly think. From here, I could see My Island clearly and all the water that threatens to swallow it completely.6
I often would take a seat, letting my legs dangle precariously over the edge, leaving me a view straight down to the valley below if I were to look between my knees. Behind me, this unmoving sentinel of destruction gave off a steady heat, but for me it was never warm enough, always leaving me feeling forgotten, as the heat felt like passing through me, but never staying with me, drifting into the skies to spread out over the world...7
From here, I could see My lovely Island completely, with the twilight sunset giving it a radiance set in red and orange, contrasting against the greens and yellows of the foliage, and the ever present blue of water running through the rivers and all around this place. To me, this was a lovely little place, but always so very lonely, as the day never ends there.8
All alone I would sit there, while the quiet rustles and gurgles of nature would echo in my ears... but I could never hear it. I only heard the waves of the ocean, crashing down on the beaches, but never washing up anything of worth.9
One might wonder why I wouldn't choose to settle in and be comfortable with this place, to take in the wonderful scenery and enjoy it.10
I couldn't because it was merely just a mirage, a fleeting thought that didn't hold me.11
No, I kept my eyes on the ocean, always.12
Staring to the horizon, wondering when the sun would set, as my shadow drifted over the trees and across the water.13
I talk of this place in the past... yet I haven't exactly left it.14
This place, this island, for some, is not a wonderful place.15
For some, it is a wasteland, spewing endless streams of fire and smoke, as the ocean is barren and devoid of any water, but instead lays before them as a vast expanse of black. Jagged rocks and plumes of smoke are all that they can see, as they sit upon their own jagged mountain-top, staring into a horizon that does not hold a far off light for them.16
Not always though... that is only for the few that have given up, and have taken upon themselves to reside in their own misery, unable to bring themselves to step into the wild, no matter how scary it may be.17
Some people may find themselves constantly moving, their island shifting and changing always. Like a volcano erupting, it is never stable. Still, others are tireless, and continually work to try to escape their world, building all manner of things to get them away: Rafts, boats, planes, even building upon their island, expanding into the ocean, but ultimately, they find themselves back where they started every time.18
For some of you, the sun always sets as it did for me. For others, it is not there at all, as they are cast in darkness in an eternal night. I do not think, though, that there is a daytime to this island.19
For, if the sun were to rise up, then the island would not be here. I would not see it anymore. Instead, I would be free from My Self-Made Island, the ocean pushed back, and I would find myself able to walk on my own two feet, to explore beyond the horizon.20
I have kept myself trapped on this island, as so many others do, for so long. It... it was hard for me to see at first. It was very dark when I got here. After a while, I was able to see, but I did not notice the sun rise and set... I only knew that it stayed where it was, looming on the edge of dipping down into darkness again. It is what kept me there, wondering when it would finally drop again, enshrouding my existence in the dark.21
But...22
I remember now.23
The sun is no longer setting anymore.24
Back then, I was always staring off, trying to get a better view in the dim light of some sort of far off place that I could never reach.25
Now though, something has changed.26
One day I was upon the beach, and I stumbled over something. Something important had finally washed up... or maybe I had put it there myself. Either way, I had found something different in my small place, and I wasn't sure what to make of it.27
It was a book. I had opened it, and inside, all the pages were blank, except for the very first and the very last.28
The very first page read: "He opened his eyes unto darkness, as the light seemed so far away..."29
And the very last page read: "He had finally found his way."30
I closed the book, and looked upon the title. I was shocked. As the light shone brighter upon my being, I beheld my own name engraved on the cover, with the word HOPE written clearly underneath, and it was then I looked up to the horizon once more.31
The sun was no longer setting. It was rising, bringing about a new sense of clarity to my vision.32
Now, I no longer merely look upon My Island with disregard, or despair. I no longer stare to the horizon with but a simple sigh.33
Now I look to the sky, as I wander through the trees, and along the beaches. The rising sun shines brightly now, casting a morning glow upon my face, the shadows seeming so very faint in this light. I can see the ocean better now, and there are thousands of books floating upon the waves, I realize, each one searching for its owner. Each day, more words fill my book, and soon, I look forward to when the Sun rises completely, and I can walk freely, leaving behind my finished story.34
I look ahead now, to when I may finally find my own way into the light. -Daniel Terry Mead35
"...behold, the future is but yours and yours alone. Whether you choose to merely sit in your own existence, or to get to your feet and shape your world, is up to you. May you find your own way in life." -D.T.M.36
Author notes
...listening to the ending track of Samurai Champloo, Shiki no Uta. It's a very lovely track to be honest, and music inspires me more than anything...
This piece came from a combination of memories, hopes, a book by Charles Dickens (I think) and the lovely tune I was playing at the time.
I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. -Daniel Terry Mead
P.S. Oh and please, please inform me of any major grammatical errors, I want this piece to be perfect and edits are a definite.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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Good write.
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Nature's querry
there are thousands of books floating upon the waves, I realize, each one searching for its owner........... This is the the gist and philosophy of the subject dealing with the truth of life which is interacting with this great nature. The flow of the write is very true and very impressive too. I really appreciate this write.prabhudayal khattar -
just wanted to point out that you should probably note in the title that it is a story when featuring so that people like me who are looking for poems won't waste your points.
aye -
this is a very well written story with lots of imagary that kept me interested all the way through and for longer writes that isnt easy good job
love and light
blaze -
pretty damn good
damn do i have add sheesh this is a long story but it is good stuff my friend very good stuff and this is my other name but shhh you musnt let anyone else know our lil secret this is my harassing name heh it shall be fun for me but yea this is good stuff keep it up -
Ok Dan here is my critique…finally! Hopefully you’ll understand more why I made the suggested changes that I did.
I don’t see how standing on the edge of infinity could ever be described as simply ‘nice’. To be honest, you can always find a better word than that to describe anything. Even if you have stood and faced this scene one thousand times before, surly as ‘infinity’ it deserves more than ‘nice’. The visual imagery of the sea breeze on your face and filling your lungs was strong though.
Oh, that's right. I haven't really given much as to where I was, have I ?
This sounds really peculiar. How can you ask the reader a question in the past tense about what you are writing about when it is being written in the past tense? You obviously subconsciously realise the difficulty here, as you continue in the present tense… It's a place we've all been to before… . But I shall say no more about the tense of this as I know you have written it thus for personal reasons.
I love the idea of an island with eternally setting sun, that never actually dips below the horizon but it always wavering precariously between the day and night. This reminded me of ‘Abarat’ by Clive Barker ( One of my favourite books) where there are 24 islands each permanently experiencing the same hour of the day, where time never alters. Although I do appreciate how you have used it as a metaphor for your own purposes here, with a deeper meaning.
I also liked the use of the wider metaphor to describe your world as seen through the eyes and experiences of others.
The book imagery was cleverly done also, and it is only a matter of opinion if our lives are set out and destined in some way to be, or if we have total free will where our futures are concerned. What starts out as a seemingly simple tale, turns by degrees into something quite philosophical and thought provoking, ending on a very positive note.
I enjoyed this piece very much Dan, Thanks
Kat xxx -
When I saw the name Daniel Terry I thought you was my son for this is his name with out the Mead.and you are so right you can sit and let life happen or get up and live in it,make your own life dont sit and take what is handed to you.good write.
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beautiful
*smiles* I loved this. The imagery was great and I found myself in a way being taken there. I could see you sitting there, and I saw the book and the way the sky looked. It does invoke a sense of peace, in a way it reminds me of my forest. You used the island as a metaphor for your life and a lot of what you said rings very true with everyone. We do keep ourselves in periods of darkness and loss of hope and then we find that the sun does come out again and it only sets on our horizons if we allow it too. Once again a stunning write. -
Captivating
Wow. This is so wonderful, I like others are speachless. You make me want to put not my quill and ink and stop writting, because this is an untimate poem. I can not comment upon grammer or spelling because I was so captivated by the essence of this work. I will read it again and again. -
aah!! i was going to copy and paste the same lines as 'EnChaNteDxLaLa'!! thos lines were the absolute best of the peice. the whole thing gave off a lot of imagery that seemed kind of jagged, but after you read it through and think on it, it makes sense...
thank you for the beautiful write!
~Chentele. -
Wow, I am speechless! This story is so utterly amazing! I love it! The way you described the island in the beginning, I thought I was there staring off into the horizon with you! You are truly a talented writer!
"It was a book. I had opened it, and inside, all the pages were blank, except for the very first and the very last.
The very first page read: "He opened his eyes unto darkness, as the light seemed so far away..."
And the very last page read: "He had finally found his way.""
I love those lines! Keep up your amazing talent! Great write!
~katie -
There is a very deep peace in thise work that comes from the imagery and the simple language. I did enjoy reading it. But, it has a few problems.
One: I never fully understood the symbolism of the sun... movement maybe, that when you were moving forwards so was it?
Then the book is supposed to be your life, the beginning and the end when you find your way. Then the reason for the blank pages was because you were unwilling to move away from your past?
There are ways you can make the writting clearer and I trust that you are a good editor and will be able to see your way through that without me going sentence by sentence.
Just see how you can make it more direct in your descriptions and cut out/clarify this and that... for example:
You set the place as "edge of infinity" in the first paragraph then you say you are on an island... it sort of jumps a little, but you come out boldly and say you ARE on an island so maybe it works. I am uncertain.
Then: "ever present blue of water running through the rivers and all around this place."
Rivers and ocean? But the ocean is threatening it, the rivers aren't?
Just go back through some of your imagery to see if you can make it a little bit clear. This will help your flow and message.
Other than that, very nice. Oh and, I liked the foreshadowing when you said that nothing good ever washed up on the the beach. Then of course the book washed up so there you go, sort of foreshadowed the book washing up.
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