Lingering At The Beach

    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.

 ©Linda Baie, All Rights Reserved