DESCRIPTIVE WRITING SAMPLES
Write a description using the title, ‘The view from the top’
The relief at reaching the top was immense. I’d stopped feeling angry about
half way up and now was just relieved to have made it. As I pulled myself up
to the top of the rock, the sheer effort meant I could see, hear or feel nothing
for what seemed like several minutes afterwards. I lay exhausted on my back
on the sandy platform.
Directly above me the gulls were too high to make out though their shrill cries
seemed to mock me and my puny efforts in swimming out here and climbing
the rock. As my eyes tried to focus, the sky seemed unreal, too blue to be
true. Only smudges of clouds still hung on to this perfect canvas of summer,
the sun behind my head burned, too intense to look at.
Turning my head to the right I could see swimmers still in the water. Some
lazily floated on their backs, faces upwards, enjoying the gentle rocking
movement of the waves out past the beach. Further back, nearer the shore,
surf boards bobbed and toppled, and groups of boisterous teenagers ducked
and dived in the waves as they crashed in towards the sand. On the
shoreline, smaller children in brightly coloured costumes shrieked and ran
back to parents as waves, tiny now, trickled between their toes.
I sat up and looked left, across the bay towards the busy docks and city with
its shops, schools and offices. From the beach it had been screened by the
curve of the rocks. From out here high up on Long Rock the ugly cranes and
buildings spoilt the view. The dirty reds and blacks of shipping containers
clashed with the impossibly blue green sea and the hazy fog of pollution hung
between the land and the impossibly blue sky. I didn’t want to go back, ever.
I looked straight out to sea and studied the tiny yellow white sails of yachts or
brave windsurfers – so far out from here I couldn’t tell. At the furthest edge of
the horizon a larger ship, perhaps a ferry or tanker, hardly seemed to move as
it crept towards the port.
I shifted a little towards the edge of the smooth rock platform, and looked
directly downwards to the water below. Jumping off didn’t seem like such a
good idea now. The sea moved around the rock in swirls, and shadows
beneath might have been rocks or worse. I was going to have to climb down
back the way I had come.
Describe a busy port or harbour.
The sun beams happily in the sky as the rays bounce off the glistening
waves. The golden rays look like arrows being shot from heaven. The fierce
light from the sun bathes throng of visitors in a romantic glow and happy faces
reflect the positive rays back towards the sky. White bubble clouds hover
tentatively in the sky and look as fragile as a glass about to break. The clouds
slowly climb closer and closer to the dominant sun, threatening to hide its rays
and bring cool breezes to those under its temporary protection.
Screeches and squawks can be heard all around. The creators of this
cacophony laugh together as they soar above the heads of those down below.
The seagulls aggressively whirl and dip as they hunt for their next meal. Their
eyes scavenging the scene for anything that can be pilfered: a juicy burger
held loosely in the hand of a child; a dripping ice-cream cone about to
plummet to the ground or even a packet of crisps that has only just been
opened by an excited child. These scavengers of the sky don’t hear the
melody of cries as children mourn their lost treats, nor do they care about the
angry words screamed in their direction.
As a seagull swoops down from the sky like a comet hurtling towards earth, a
pair of siblings whirl around their parents trying to poke each other in the ribs.
Their happy war consumes their attention and causes others to stare in mock
irritation. Their melodious laughter rings throughout the harbour and bounces
off the ships standing nearby. A lone couple stroll by holding hands and pause
to look up at the army of birds encircling the area above them. They cover
their eyes with their hands but the sun pierces through the latticework of their
fingers, creating a patchwork of light on their upturned faces.
Vendors’ voices mingle together into an orchestra as they vie for the attention
of those strolling up and down the boardwalk. The sweet smell of candied
apples rises from a busy stall as throngs of people jostle in the snaking line to
the front. The aroma of sugar and bitter apples stings the nose. However, like
an enchanting song it entices all those who breathe in the intoxicating
fragrance.
Leaving the fragrance behind, many visitors find themselves staring dreamily
into the water. The waves glisten and wink as the gentle breeze plays with the
rhythm and motion of the water. The sound of water lapping against the moss
covered wall sounds like muffled clapping.
The lazy sun starts to blink as the white bubble clouds creep across the
golden haze in the sky. The light dims and turns from golden to grey. The
breeze begins to grow in strength and whips the clothes and hats of the
visitors merrily perusing the shops on the boardwalk. Fiercely small droplets
of rain begin to spatter the wooden boards underfoot and the wood darkens in
protest at this sudden change. The sun finally succumbs to the slow battery of
the rain and retreats in defeat.
