By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

The Cliffs of Torrey Pines

Have you heard
echoes of waves
breaking in rocks?

Have you dipped your feet
into the shallow water
before it surged back to sea?

Touched foam
flying from stone?

Have you seen your future
in sediments
frozen into sludge?

Were you soothed
by the soft spoken colors
washed out of my cliffs?

Will you read unrecorded history
written into bluffs
before elevating sea levels
pound it back into oblivion

Will you weep with me?

Will you follow amber strands of kelp
into wind caves
long buried by sand
count
the ticking lines of shores
from beach to clouds
find your features
in yellow caryatids
sculpted by erosion

Will you be humbled
by the span of human life?

A scratch
in millions of years
of terraced mud and silt

Will you recognize
the finite shadow of yourself
projected onto cliff face
by faithful sun?

Lay down
in my warmth of retained light
peacefully dissolving
into evening’s rising tide?

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Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).

Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)

• Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
• Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
• Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018