She lived along the Atlantic coast
and had a collection of lobster pots
by the porch
and her lawn was trimmed for croquet
smelled of clams at low tide
the house was set near barnacle rocks
just beyond a stand of trees.

I found her by looking in a phonebook
next to her name it said, "Poetry Journals,"
so I called the number, and said I was on my way.
"Is that ok?" I added hesitantly.

“Well, yes,” she laughed, “You can come buy one.”
I passed the sign for fresh eggs
and arrived at a black wrought iron gate that said,
"Poetry Journals - 2 for $5.00."

“You’re the first one
who’s ever made it all the way to the house for a journal…”
“In four dozen years,"
she said.
Then she asked,
“What’s your name?”

“I don’t really have a name," I said.
She nodded and understood.
She'd heard from Byron
that the Banshee drags souls out to sea
but sometimes the nameless
manage to float back looking for poetry
these lost ones are like driftwood
bringing a sense of chilly dusk
a retrospective on the sea
in a seashell
appearing by happenstance
at low tide
"yes, I hear a distant mumble of waves,"
she might have said of me
I was one of the lost
turning her porch into a quay of despair
the first one in almost 50 years
who had made it so far
to latch on
until high tide
when the rush of sea returned
washed me out again clinging for dear life
to a raft of poetry

With treasures lost at sea,
forbidden places we see.
I take your hand, as we explore,
along the beaches tides that soar.

As dawn sets in, as sunlight fades,
soon the sky will set its shades.
The water rushes at our feet.
We come together as our eyes meet.

You gently hold and hug me tight,
as we still gaze at each others sight.
Your fingers strung through my sunset auburn hair,
as I take a breathe of  sea swept air.

Then firmly pulling me so close,
with waters with the sand between our toes.
You grab me firm as we embrace,
your hand then lingers on my face.

You take my breathe away with just one kiss.
Along the ocean's tide of bliss.
With this passion, I cannot hide.
As you take me in - Oh with the tide.

The ocean through an opened window
Frontier between all that's known
of here
and sleep
riding out the waves as they come

A gull cries in passing

Waves sating themselves
in the womb of the earth
kissing the neck of Bride's Brook
Her seaweed streaming hair
in wind of tides
The moon's pull to release
coaxing spent and tender moans--

the farthest reach of sighs

The ominous waves crash to the shore,
a blazing sun sparkling upon them;
A turbulent ocean cries in ecstasy,
emitting many colors of precious gems.

Blue topaz glistens within its folds,
as cool emeralds land on the beach;
The pearly white of swirling foam,
bubbles and bursts in swift retreat.

But as sailboats float in the distance,
distinct in their parallel scheme;
Our eyes are met with diamonds,
a royal tribute to the dazzling scene.

Soon the afternoon sun begins to set,
spreading all its natural gleam;
And violet streaks reflect upon,
the undulating surface of the sea.

Follow scores of dancing sapphires,
cool and rich as an autumn sky;
Faithfully cruise against the horizon,
capturing starlight within their sighs.

the ocean is blind and beautiful
searching the lonely shore
For what it had, time long past
a love for once before

It worships the ever knowing sun
but dances with the moon
Sacrificing for its love
the rain for springtime blooms

the summer begs so much more of it
the ocean must comply
so storms forge from anvil heights
and paint the raging sky

soon the sun forgets her loyal charm
trees mourn their sour loss
the ocean grows cruel and cold
scarlet leaves wave and toss

what is love with out that flowing fire
her sorrow falls as snow
the earth dreams as winters guest
as its veins seize and slow

the sun will rise once again one day
and she will froth and gleam
sorrow melts returning home
in worn yet hopeful streams

Drifting back to the ocean
like it never even happened
unraveled dreams washed clean
crystalline renaissance bestowed    
by wind mountain spring waters
rising from the heart
of mother earth

A remnant light glows deeply
of one love's untamed wonders
an unfastened feather glides abandoned
rushing waters floating
alighting pilgrim blissfully sails on
stranded without wings
a fallen wild feather free as bird
wanting a place to be let free

Sun in the summer air
wind in buoyant feathered hair
softly dancing upon
wild river restless ripples
to feel the love of holding on
adrift asunder whence it touched on
destiny's far-reaching
journey yonder
holding onto flowing rivers
rolling towards the sea

The incoming tidal waters blossom
surge to greet wind river's gentle saunter
converging slackening passage
salt on feral feathered fragments
arousing currents babbling swirl
imbibed by the impassioned sea

Wild rivers' born intentions
a different kind of drifting passage
to kiss the distant horizon
where the sown sunlight settles
submerged in shoreless ocean waters
    to be free all at sea at last


someone you used to know  2017