The Poetry of Beach
No neckties. No shoes. No business men in suits. Red and purple pails splash like paint on a wash of pale blue canvas. Sherbet colored shovels lie waiting to scoop sand or dig gullies for toy boats to sail in. Toddlers waddle and wade near the shore. Giddy girls giggle at their reflections.
Seawater glows like polished tourmaline. Under a pillow of clouds, it ripples. At sunset a dusky shade of lavender falls. A girl in a turquoise bikini shivers and strikes a pose. A single man walks as if he has stepped out of a Monet painting with a smile on his face, looking for a snack bar to buy fried clams.
Photos: 1. Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts, four houses down from where my mother lives in the town I grew up in. 2. A day later, in the evening at Duxbury Beach while visiting my sister Sherry and her husband, Nelson.
Comments
What pretty pictures and what beautiful poetry . . . Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Red | July 3, 2007 11:19 AM
You are really making me miss the ocean. In fact since you've been gone I found some days open on Martin's calendar and have made us reservations at Myrtle in early August. I am really looking forward to it!
Posted by: Deana | July 3, 2007 11:25 AM
Beautiful photos and beautiful words!
Posted by: dew | July 3, 2007 11:47 AM
BEAUTIFUL pictures and BEAUTIFUL words to go with them...as always Colleen, your words are poetry!
If you get MSNBC tonight Keith Olbermann is doing a "special comment" on IMPEACHMENT...following yesterdays announcement, I believe.
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | July 3, 2007 1:11 PM
It is a beautiful world, isn't it? Especially for those 'glass is half full' type like you are. So glad you are enjoying this vacation!
Posted by: Tabor | July 3, 2007 2:50 PM
Thank you for sharing your beach pictures and prose. I'm still stuck in the house while my ankle slowly heals. I had an MRI done yesterday (Monday) to find out what else is going on in there besides the hairline fracture.
Despite my doctor's insistence that I stay OFF the foot, I'm planning to go up to Villa Appalacchia on Saturday to sit in their Tuscany-inspired setting to listen to music and drink wine. I'll avoid the steps and get Dick to bring me the wine...
Posted by: Marion | July 3, 2007 3:12 PM
Yes, Colleen! That's exactly it...sherbet coloured shovels!
Beauty last pic.
Posted by: ruth | July 3, 2007 10:06 PM
I love the colors in these pictures. Beautiful.
Posted by: Kat Campbell | July 4, 2007 12:26 AM
Hi Colleen, Michele sent me. Lovely pictures of the water...makes me miss California. You know, you are right, the beach does have a poetry about it.
Posted by: rosemary | July 4, 2007 12:57 AM
You create such glorious images with your words. The pictures, albeit beautiful, do not even come close to matching the portrait you paint with poetry.
Suddenly, I long for beach day. Yes, I do blame you.
Posted by: Michele | July 4, 2007 1:05 AM
GREAT photos, Colleen!
Posted by: kenju | July 4, 2007 1:50 PM