too soon for the moon…
originally posted by Jean Nov 9, 2009
Wandered the beach very late afternoon,
wanting to see the moon rise.
While waiting for that, studied the rest
and composed and poeticized.
Wind frothed the breakers, square-danced
with the gulls. Candy clouds punctuated
the sky. Not a glimpse of a glimmer of
lunar peculiar jiggled the night swath
descending. A shrug and a slump then
turned course westward, resigned to a
glitterless eve.
Moon face smiled, “You could have seen
the moon but you gave up too soon. I’ll be
back in December but will you remember?”
Beautiful pictures and words, Jean. You are blessed.
A great momentary distraction from the dizzying effects of the current state of the world. Needed that. Many thanks.
Wrote this when still living in Florida.
If my words bring any kind of positivity to those who read,
well, I smile. 🙂
I read your poem Jean and loved every line of it. “Square dancing with the gulls”. So lovely.
I wondered where the beach might be. When you said it was from when you lived in Florida it reminded me of a florida gulf coast beach walk that inspired me, a long time ago, to scribble a poem in a notebook one New Year’s day when I was sad after losing someone important. I dug out the notebook and here is the poem:
Walking, on the beach at New Year’s, wind whistling, rain splashing down from the leaden sky.
Counting, birds dancing, prancing, backtracking and advancing with the waves.
Watching, frothy silver water swirling, curling, whirling away the birds scribbles on the sand.
Listening, to the tuck tuck tucking of the turnstones, the peeping of the pipers, the crying of the gulls.
Soaking, in that salty sea spray seaweed smell,
Searching, I found a treasure on the shimmering shell strewn shore, under the osprey’s eye.
SK if your poem here doesn’t bring to mind a beautiful image of wandering a favorite beach and all its elements, nothing will.
I lived in Volusia County for 38 years before I moved back to my home state of Ohio. These photos are from the beach in Ormond.
Aw thanks Jean. When I read your words it seemed like we had been on the same beach. Such special places. I used to do the annual bird count on florida beaches. The bird numbers have declined precipitously from all the development of course. But there are still many varieties if you look carefully.
My brother, and I, spent a long evening waiting for the moon to rise over a local lake. It was worth the wait. The thin sliver peaked above the horizon, soon filled to an orange glory, and the full disk soon turned into a silver globe behind a scintillating swath of wind stirred water. I can still see it in my memory, and it’s still as wonderful.
They say patience is a virtue, Jess.
And, your description is beautiful.