At dawn, tides sweep the pier, me dizzy with love as the lanterns sway in the ocean breeze. Past couples had carved their hearts into the wooden rails; this tradition was a hook for those suffering with first love. Old boats with steam engines prepare to strip their tarps for paying customers looking for nostalgia. I find you waiting, your eyes a shock of blue. My heart begins to swell with joy, and my voice wants to stick in my throat as I fidget with the chain around my neck. Standing before me, I put my arms around your waist.


Susie! Long time since I have read your work. Another person used the word “bittersweet” in their comment, and that about sums it up. You nailed this prompt, so many words with myriad meanings, woven into a cohesive poem. Good work! Amy
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Well, I’m glad you came back! :) I really appreciate it, and also your praise. Thank you, Amy!
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Beautiful bitter-sweet story Susi ❤️
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Thanks so much, Ange! Glad you like it. :)
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The picture , the words, perfect description of the shown scenery with a lot of emotions and love. Beautiful.
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:) Thank you! I appreciate that.
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Lovely story Susi.
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Thanks so much, Sadje! :)
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You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
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You have captured the bittersweet magic of a moment so perfectly Susi, it feels like a memory. The way you weave sensory details—the sway of lanterns, the scent of ocean and old tarpaulin—into a rush of personal feeling is exquisite. The carvings in the rail aren’t just marks in wood; they are echoes of every heart that has stood there before, trembling with hope. And in the midst of all that atmosphere, the clarity of your beloved’s blue eyes, that beautiful, breath-stealing specificity, grounds everything in a single, life-altering connection. The gesture with the chain, the swell of joy that nearly chokes the voice—these are the details of a truth, tenderly told. This is more than description; it’s an experience, suspended in prose.🌷🤝
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Thank you so much for your thoughts, Srikanth! Happy that you enjoyed it! I’m glad I was able to convey these feelings to you. :)
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I love this!
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Thank you, I’m happy that you do, Violet! :)
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This is a wonderful short story there is almost a feeling of taking control.
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Thank you, Diana! Ah yes, but how does one control love? ;)
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🥰
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