Tuesday Poetics: Come with Me!

Lillian is hosting our virtual pub, dVerse Poets Pub. She wants us to take each other along on our vacation or trips. I wrote a haibun in imitation of Basho and his original haibun about his trip centuries ago. Pawley’s Island is a wonderful place – one of the oldest vacation places on the east coast. Originally the Pee Dee and Wee Need Indians settled the island (a barrier island off the coast of SC). In the early 1700’s, planters discovered the island and settled there during the summer months knowing the hot humid air along the Waukamaw River was unhealthy. From April until the first frosts of November, the families of the planters lived on that barrier island. Many of the original structures still stand on the island. You park in one of various parking areas on the island and walk or golf cart about to other places on the island. It is a national treasure. Come join us at dVerse Poets Pub today and go on vacation with us! https://dversepoets.com/2016/09/13/take-me-along/

public domain photo

Pawley’s Island
We travelled from Richmond to Pawley’s Island on a Saturday. A trip of five to six hours. We arrived just a few minutes ahead of sunset. Before we unpacked the car, we parked in a low lying parking area and walked up the high bank on which the homes were constructed and stood, watching the sun slip into the ocean. We stood and listened to the ocean, to the sound of children laughing and adults calling out to one another, and the sound of the ocean with its booming waves crashing against the beach as the tide came in. At last, we walked back down to the car and carried our things into the cottage we had rented. All the houses had walkways over the salt marshes and at the end of each, was either a gazebo or seats around the ends of the walkways. People love to sit on these and drink their morning coffee, have cookouts, or fish or party! We spent the evening on our deck enjoying the fresh ocean breezes and eating take-out hamburgers from the small joint about a mile away. All the windows to the house were open and it was wonderful to go to sleep with the sound of the waves and the breezes playing about. Next morning we had breakfast on our deck and waved to our neighbors to the right and left of us. Then we walked down to the beach in front of our cottage, stuck in our beach umbrella and sat, watching the other people, residents and transients enjoying the day. I took a walk searching for shells. I was delighted to land in a current of water that brought in sand dollars, swirling in the ocean waves like thin, bony UFOs landing on the shore of the beach. Sitting under the gazebo at the end of our cottage, I was surprised to see an alligator come swimming in the salty water of the salt marsh! I caught several mullets and cleaned them and cooked them on the grill on the deck. It was a wonderful supper! We had a wonderful time at the beach for two weeks and then it was time to head home. We returned home filled with fresh fish, ocean breezes, and a small basket filled with sand dollars and other shells.

sand dollars swirl in
ocean waves – summer sun warms
sand beneath my feet

public domain photo

public domain photo – sand dollar

January Solitude Part II 2:14 am

I awaken.

Lying in the warmth of the bed

I orient myself to the strange room.

I snuggle in with satisfaction.

I am at the beach.

I am alone.

The sliding glass door

Off the balcony is cracked.

Ocean waves slough softly.

The air has a sweet smell

In addition to the salt.

I breathe more deeply

Testing the smell.

Sweet with salt?

Out of the bed and into my robe

And slippers.

I open the balcony door completely

And step outside.

It is snowing.

I stand and watch the flakes

Hurrying down to nestle on the sand.

Flakes gather on my hair

My robe

My hands and face.

Snow and ocean.

Sweet and salt.

Back into the room

And I rush to put on my clothing

And down jacket, gloves, and hat.

I grab the door key and out

Into the night.

No one is around.

I cross the sand and

Go to the edge of the surf.

Black waves, white foam

Dark sand, white snow.

I wave my arms and jump up and down.

Snow snow snow snow!

Ocean snow ocean snow!

I laugh and hold my face to the sky.

Flakes settle on my skin, my glasses.

I stick out my tongue and taste snow.

I walk along the edge.

Because of my boots,

I walk close enough

For water to touch me.

Snow and surf.

Snow and sand.

Darkness to my left.

Hotels barely lit to my right.

After awhile, I turn and head back.

Shells on the sand

Are fuzzy with snow.

Snow melts on the sand.

I turn back to the surf.

The flakes are falling faster,

Disappearing into the blackness

Of the ebbing waves.

I stand until my face is numb

And my nose runs with the cold.

I hold out my hands to collect

Flakes on my gloves.

They stay long enough for me to

Fall in love with each one

And then they disappear.