THE TIDE

Cape Elizabeth, Maine,
Ocean pounding,
Tide rolling in,
Reclaiming its domain,
Stranded, rock-bound barnacles, bivalves, seaweed,
Await their Mother's nourishment.

SEAWALL

York Harbor, Maine,
Seawall bolstered by billion-year-old boulders,
Containing stripes, curves and variegations.
These runes, like the sea,
Emanate immortal truths.
We humans, how trivial our plans;
How delusional our "wealth" and social posturing.
The clock is ticking,
Recycle, revitalize, replant or die.

SEA GIFTS

Anne Morrow Lindberg,
Thank you for your Gifts from the Sea.
I came to find my own, and
They were everywhere,
For seeing eyes and
Listening ears.

CAROLINA VACATION

I thought I came to rest.
I did, some.
Actually, I came to reclaim my soul,
From life's distractions and illusions.

Little did I know
The words would come so easily.
Maybe, I should have come sooner?
No.
Everything has its own time.

FREEDOM

I sink into the silence,
Like a diver descending to the ocean's floor.
I listen.
Words come.

As I swim the silent expanse,
I discover the nooks and crannies of the universe and my soul.
Within the watery depths of the primal mother,
I am birthed into freedom.

BEACH WALKS

Mysterious shards,
Of all geometry,
Tumbled smooth,
Striped,
Swirled,
Variegated

From whence came you?
What story yours,
Adventures from the deep or
Silent reveries?
Surrender please,
To this listening heart.

BLUE SHIRT

You,
With the blue shirt and rolled-up jeans,
I'm watching.
You cast your line with the rhythm of the sea,
As it travels to your naked feet.
In and out, cast you,
Without perturbation at an empty line.
Your purpose is in the casting
And in your silent communion with the deep.

ROCKING CHAIR PERCH

Family on boardwalk,
Heading to the beach,
Father charges first,
Little sister follows,
Bouncing toddler next,
Mother calmly bringing up the rear,
Hatted, tote bagged,
Carrying all three ducklings' necessities

BEACH WINGS

Flying pelican chorus lines,
Cardinal couple comes to call,
Bread crumbs eaten,
Seagulls paranoid glances,
As beaks grip food,
Birds soaring,
Flying social games,
Perches everywhere

FROM SLUMBER

Senses awaken,
Light beams,
Waves crash,
Birds conversate

SOLITUDE'S RHYTHMS

Awaken to ocean's beat,
Mornings writing,
Afternoons reading,
Rocking,
Resting,
Dinners out,
Frank crooning,
Evening beach walks,
Ocean lullabies

THE SIDEWALK

Long walk,
Lumina Avenue bustling,
Spring repairs,
Painters,
Gardeners,
Pine straw mulch nestles floral splendor.
Cool breeze,
Honeysuckle wafting,
One-speed, old-time bicycles,
Made to last,
New generation pedaling,
As it should,
We've ridden far too long.

NORTH CAROLINA BEACH

Arrival,
Ocean greets me.
"Welcome back."
Birds aflutter
Over balcony crumbs,
Long, hot bath,
Yoga stretches,
Seaside serenade,
Bed more comfy than my rumble seat


Addendum: On this trip, for speed and economy, I slept in the back seat of my vehicle.