[Poetry] Here by Julia Travers
- David M. Olsen
- Apr 8, 2025
- 1 min read
between me and the present moment
I wear a thin, doubting armor
which the sea dissolves
and washes away
water is constant arrival
Julia Travers (she/they) is a writer, artist and teacher in Virginia, U.S.A. She writes poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Find her work with Fish Publishing, Bowery Poetry, Rattapallax, On Being/ American Public Media, Rough Cut Press, Ecological Citizen, The Poetry Society of Virginia (which awarded her two first place prizes) and others. More at juliatravers.journoportfolio.com.
![[Poetry] Two Poems by Hillary Smith-Maddern](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_66f3d3c7649549428445147e63cd0f57~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_693,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/11062b_66f3d3c7649549428445147e63cd0f57~mv2.jpg)
![[Poetry] Two Poems by Phil Wood](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_4824a3bae6154d30a4be9b9b05148f74~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1301,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/11062b_4824a3bae6154d30a4be9b9b05148f74~mv2.jpg)
![[Essay] Lost Canyon](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7a8a294a077f43148145a6d2545b7841.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_633,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/7a8a294a077f43148145a6d2545b7841.jpg)
This poem feels beautifully quiet and meditative—the image of “thin, doubting armor” being dissolved by the sea is especially striking. That line, along with “water is constant arrival,” captures a sense of vulnerability turning into renewal, almost like surrendering to the present moment rather than resisting it.
It’s always refreshing to read work that values subtlety and texture, much like good design does. In a different creative space, that attention to detail is something we care deeply about at The American Patch, where we create all types of custom patches in the USA—often inspired by simple, meaningful imagery like this.
This poem feels beautifully quiet and reflective—the image of “thin, doubting armor” dissolving into water really stayed with me. The idea of water as constant arrival is simple but powerful. It’s interesting how even minimal words can carry so much meaning. We see a similar appreciation for symbolism at The Eagle Patches, especially when designing Personalized PVC patches that tell a story without needing excess detail. Sometimes the strongest impact comes from what’s subtle and intentional.
This poem feels quiet and powerful in such a subtle way—the image of a “thin, doubting armor” being dissolved by the sea really lingers. It captures vulnerability and renewal beautifully. As someone at Eagle Patches who works with symbols of identity and protection in a very different medium, I found this reflection especially moving. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and evocative piece.
I also want to get a international tour to somewhere quite place but I always prefer a best Canada Cap store for the customized cap for your journey!