we walk, like watercolors, on the beach
on quiet sailboat afternoons
in the spring months of summer
the sun, the severe horizon
the screened in porches
with their layered enamel history
on rocking chair mornings
when sea oats bend over backwards
to greet the tourist winds of august
the shrimp boats leave the docks
in the morning fog,
in the iridescent morning light,
with the timeless dream of overflowing the boxes
with gills and scales
with the odorous evenings, the brine, the gulls, the salt
George McKim lives and works in Raleigh, NC. He is married with two adult children. An artist and a poet, he has painted for many years and just recently taken up writing poetry. Haiku and Free Verse are his favorite forms of poetry. Cycling is his hobby. http://allpoetry.com/George%20McKim
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6 Responses to “THE BEACH • by George McKim”
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September 25th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Thank you for engaging my senses this morning with the beauty of the ocean.
September 25th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Evocative and wistful…there’s sand in my shoe. 5!
September 26th, 2009 at 2:03 am
I was there the moment I read this!
September 26th, 2009 at 4:09 am
I really, really like the imagery but–the time transition between “the spring months of summer” and “the tourist winds of august” distracted me. The second reference made me go back and double-check the first one before I finished reading the poem (had I remembered wrong? had time jumped without warning/transition?), which was an interruption I wish I hadn’t experienced.
I absolutely LOVE the sensory images, the overall peaceful mood. I especially like the opening line and “porches with their layered enamel history.” The last section about the shrimp boats doesn’t work as well for me personally.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:04 am
An excellent piece!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Beautiful!!