Samuel Quinn is a poet who writes at The Pony Express. He and I share a love of both art and poetry and how one can inform the other. Here is a good example of what he’s up to poetically, ie. vivid and sensuous words paired with a beautiful work by Keith Thompson. As he states, he is trying to write poetry about the way things are. Indeed he does!
Approaching the Estuary by Samuel Quinn At dawn he enters the estuary. Day, night marry in the golden ripples, like soft purple robes. While waves gently lap the sides of his skiff he surveys the staked rows – full of oysters, and breathes musky spray and seaweed that comes from the slimy mollusks. The night before in small lamplight needle and thread deliberate – (up down cross left right) he mended his nets worn through by salt and sun. He rose early to enter the ritual waters, putting the boat out and stepping in. His methodical oars stroked the murky waters: the rising and kneeling in a Sunday pew. And he casted his eyes off the right side. Bending down he presses the oyster into his palm as sea and salt intertwine in flesh.
Thank you so much for this shoutout!