Swollen waves roll and swoosh to the beach, depositing frothy lace which shyly shrinks into cream coloured sand as the wash of wave recedes.

Frothy bubbles left behind, momentarily shimmer rainbows and burst.
Seagulls run back and forth, alert for what the scalloped-edged swishing water brings.
Their small webbed footprints stolen to the ocean, as though they never were.

A gull cries, as salt-laden wind seemingly keeps it unsteadily hovering, before its feet touch down.
A dry plant-ball from beach vegetation, played by the wind skittles along after finding freedom from banked partly buried dry ribbon seaweed.

It's all as wonderful as I had remembered.
Only I have changed, instead of running
and skipping in youthful glee of the sea side, I now walk sedately, still relishing the freshness of ocean air
and familiar coolness of sand between my toes.

The rock I used to scamper across in search of rock crabs now gives me hesitation as I choose my footsteps
to its outer edge where I can see into the weedless water.
Clear sea-green water visually irresistible plays me in temptation with its mesmerizing movement and sparkle.

Once again I am seduced by Mother ocean
in the smell, the sound and her beauty.
My heart and soul being the shell in which I capture to memory the stimulating freshness and magnificence of her.


2000 (updated 2001)

10/15/2001

Posted on 10/15/2001
Copyright © 2024 Audrey M Scott