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“It Just So Happens”

Dark creatures prowl the islands of the mind
On silent paw, as panthers in the night;
Two em’rald eyes, and shadow intertwine
To weave a myst’ry with the curved moon’s light.
We sail our craft across this vast expanse
Of island-speckled seas, in search of grace;
Our distant gaze, the long horizon, scans,
For land is oft more peril than embrace.
Yet e’er so rarely, currents and a breeze
Do carry us t’wards harbors as from dreams,
Which yield to exploration such an ease
And comfort, as we’d ever dared esteem.
As sunrise casts, the lurking shadows fade,
And wonder rises, slowly, from the shade.

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Oliver Grossman is a writer from Pittsburgh who currently resides in Suriname.

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14 Responses

  1. Paul A. Freeman

    What a compelling, visual and slightly enigmatic piece this is. I thought the final couplet was brilliant.

    I’m not sure about the elisions and apostrophes. Trust your readers, they’ll read the elisions without being told where they are.

    Thanks for the read.

    Reply
    • Oliver

      Thanks for that, however … somewhat ironically … there’s another elision in line 9 which wasn’t transcribed correctly … it’s supposed to read: Yet e’er so rarely … but more to the point … glad ya enjoyed it!

      Reply
    • C.B. Anderson

      Paul, you are quite right. Any experienced reader of metrical poetry will know almost instantly when a word must be elided. Also, the commas in lines 3, 6, 7 &12 are unnecessary and, in some cases, are simply disruptive.

      Reply
      • Oliver

        All due respect fellas, but to read the poem as I intended, all punctuation, be it earthbound commas or those I’ve chosen to, ahem, elevate, so to speak, are necessary. Allow a poet to include such guides … read as it is written, with very much intentional pauses and elisions, and you will more nearly hear the poem as if the poet was reading it to you … which is best of all, of course.

  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    That is a beautiful poem, Oliver, with a depth of meaning and well-wrought wording, as well as rhyme. A delight to read.

    Reply
  3. Cynthia Erlandson

    This is quite beautiful! I love the vivid imagery, especially the almost startling metaphor of the first two lines. The last line is also quite profound.

    Reply
    • Oliver

      Cynthia I thank you for your kind words, and I’m pleased that you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Deborah

    Thank you so much for this dream-like read! Your use of such evocative imagery created such a mood of mystery, and I quite agree with Paul, the end couplet is exquisite!

    Reply
  5. Kevin Carson

    Love love love this poem!!! And by all means, read as it was written!! The comment deriding your elisions and use of commas is so needlessly hyper-critical and, most likely, a great compliment given sideways haha!!

    Reply
  6. Gregory Crandall

    Thank you, Mr. Grossman, for this powerful poem. It really speaks to me, I’ve been in a tough place and just really am hoping for a better 2025. Happy New Year to you.

    Reply
    • Oliver

      Mr. Crandall,

      Thank you for those kind words!

      I wish you and yours the best in 2025, and beyond!

      Reply

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