Explore the poem

Have you ever placed a shell to your ear and imagined you can hear the sighing sound of the sea? This poem makes us think of the sights, sounds and stories we associate with the sea.

There are just nine lines and only 40 words here so you will want your audience to hear every syllable of every word. Which are the words that make you think most about the sea? Can you hear words in the poem where the sounds they make when you speak them make you hear the sea?

The second verse is quite spooky mentioning “moans” and “ghost monsters”. How will you use your voice to create the right atmosphere?

The final word is quite an unusual way to end a poem. Experiment with different ways of saying “ahhh” until you are happy that it’s the right sound to leave in the ears of your listeners.

About James Berry

James Berry was brought up in Jamaica and was fascinated by words and stories from an early age. However, he saw few opportunities to flourish in the town of his birth, where access to books was limited, and he set sail for England in 1948.

Working by day and studying in the evening, he began to write, and by the late 1970s he was ready to embark on a career that saw him publish several collections of poetry for adults, stories and poems for children and two highly influential anthologies of British/West Indian writing. His work explores a wide range of subjects, including his West Indian roots, the experiences of the West Indian community in England and relationships between communities. There is anger at injustice and oppression but also a celebration of generosity and unity among communities.