Renee LaTulippe at NoWaterRiver is hosting us today for Poetry Friday. Come see what wonderful things she has for us, plus visit all the other Poetry LInks! Thanks Renee!
The senses seem to be so much more important when visiting the beach. I have recently returned from a week on Captiva Island and am still there in a way, can’t stop thinking about what a wonderful time I had with my family on the ocean shore. It is a special place to be. I envy those of you who are near water, or who can make it to the ocean rather quickly. I’ve been to many oceans, with family and with students. I have had the pleasure of introducing them to students who had never traveled so far from Colorado and now to my two young granddaughters.
Now,
they know…
that sand can be too hot for bare feet,
unless it is wet, and can be dug and ‘potted’,
with the strange thought of building a castle,
only to have it disappear with something called
a “high tide” - they know that crabs appearing
are sometimes called “ghosts” and dancing
for them can shoo them away - they know that
the water tastes salty, that the sun melts into
the water and that if one looks and looks,
a dolphin may appear – they know that the tide
pushes and pulls, but also rocks and rocks you
like a baby – they know that shells sometimes
hold interesting animals that peek out
with only one foot and two dangling eyes –
they know that if one digs down in the sand,
small creatures that look like teeth will wiggle
and hide – they know birds eat fish by hurtling
themselves into the water, capturing dinner,
again and again – they know the ocean
is full of things of wonder – they will return.
unless it is wet, and can be dug and ‘potted’,
with the strange thought of building a castle,
only to have it disappear with something called
a “high tide” - they know that crabs appearing
are sometimes called “ghosts” and dancing
for them can shoo them away - they know that
the water tastes salty, that the sun melts into
the water and that if one looks and looks,
a dolphin may appear – they know that the tide
pushes and pulls, but also rocks and rocks you
like a baby – they know that shells sometimes
hold interesting animals that peek out
with only one foot and two dangling eyes –
they know that if one digs down in the sand,
small creatures that look like teeth will wiggle
and hide – they know birds eat fish by hurtling
themselves into the water, capturing dinner,
again and again – they know the ocean
is full of things of wonder – they will return.
©Linda
Baie, All Rights Reserved
Your grandchildren are so lucky to have you introducing them to the wonders of the ocean. I love the image of the "two dangling eyes" peeking out of the shell. Thanks for sharing your lovely memories!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Thanks Catherine. Many of the questions gave us a chuckle, but then we realized that young children have such a hard time understanding things like the tide. They were disappointed when their 'creations' just disappeared by next day!
DeleteHi Linda! Loved, loved, loved this poem! You've really captured a child's first visit to the ocean!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was quite a fun time showing them 'oceany' things!
DeleteHow wonderful to see the shore anew through the eyes of your granddaughters. Thanks to your poem, now I feel like I've (re)learned something as well... how important poetry is to help us interpret the world with freshly opened eyes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle-it is such a gift to re-see things we've known before.
DeleteI am playing in your water :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been on a few different coasts this past year too, Bonnie-a treasure of a time to play!
DeleteI love your poem with the repetition and all the wonder of the beach. I feel like I took part of the trip with you. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret-much to wonder about for the little ones!
DeleteWhat a lovely poem to capture a lovely experience. Thanks for reminding me of the child's point of view. There are so many firsts beyond the first step and the first word.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's quite wonderful to share some of the firsts with children, isn't it? Thanks LIz-it was a great week of showing things to these two young girls!
DeleteHi, Linda. I've been to Captiva once. What a beautiful place to vacation. Your poem captures all of the discoveries young ones can make when they are outdoors. I especially like how the small details and small animals in your poem contrast with the largeness of the ocean: big and small side by side.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. Actually, one point I didn't know how to share was that focus on the small things made it less scary for the 4 year old who kept saying things like, you can't see the other side, etc. That vastness is what she was referring to, I'm sure. Thanks!
DeleteAfter reading your poem I am lingering at the beach...and now I know. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bridget-happy you feel as if you had a short stay!
DeleteLucky grandkids! I'm sure they know that, too!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee!
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