Monday, January 6, 2014

"Winter Beach"




Winter Beach

It's refreshing, this January beach
whose secrets still wash ashore,
offer my girls smoothed stones,
wave tossed shells, an odd feather or two.

Our cheeks flush from biting wind,
waves laughingly avoided -
not embraced as in June.

Yet this winter rush offers
a lingering sharpness of which
sun drenched days can't compete -

kind of like the difference between
chocolate chip mint ice cream
and rainbow sherbet:
one caters to the sweet tooth,
the other cleanses the palate.

With necks scarf-wrapped,
hands pocketed, we hurry along
the trackless sand, take the stairs
two by two to the boardwalk,

glance upwards as pelicans
glide single file against the soothing sky,
become our evening prayer.

by Margaret Bednar, January 6, 2014


Two of my girls and I visited the coast of Wilmington, NC this past weekend.  Windy, gusty, chilly and so fun!  This is linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Open Link Monday.   Also linked with dVerse Poets Pub - Open Link Night #127.






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47 comments:

  1. Susie ClevengerJanuary 6, 2014 at 11:34 PM

    Beautiful photos...Rarely do I read a poem about a winter walk on the beach...I like the different viewpoint...how summer can't compete with winter's sharpness.

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2014 at 11:46 PM

    vivid imagery ~ i almost feel the wind! great piece and photographs, Margaret!

    Happy New Year!
    dani
    ♥

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  3. Kerry O'ConnorJanuary 7, 2014 at 2:07 AM

    Your first photo is just about the most perfect thing I've seen! And all the others open this special place to us - the beach in winter is a different world. I adore the whole post.

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  4. kaykualaJanuary 7, 2014 at 5:35 AM

    The beach cool and windy is a nice change towards the goodness of spring. A transition likely to still offer some of the chilly winter waning where the sun is yet to be felt. Wonderful write Marge!

    Hank

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  5. AditiJanuary 7, 2014 at 6:21 AM

    Love the poem...isn't it beautiful how the same beach can offer so much difference in difft seasons... Loves the pics :)

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  6. LaTonya BaldwinJanuary 7, 2014 at 6:43 AM

    Beautiful prayer.

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  7. Lisa GordonJanuary 7, 2014 at 7:29 AM

    What a wonderful time for you and your girls, and these photographs are really beautiful, Margaret.

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  8. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2014 at 8:04 AM

    I absolutely agree with these sentiments about the beach in winter. There's something balmed at that time that no balmy summer day can equal. But it's great to have both! Great easy languid affirming language here.

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  9. TexWisGirlJanuary 7, 2014 at 9:08 AM

    really like the 'cleansing' aspect you wrote about.

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  10. Liz Rice-SosneJanuary 7, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    How lovely this is ... so close to my favorite place upon earth. The OBX. Your wonderful poem and lovely photos brought me sweet memories. Thank you.

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  11. Kathie BrownJanuary 7, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    What lovely images of the windswept sea. It makes me want to be there. You captured the feeling well in your poem.

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  12. ClaudiaJanuary 7, 2014 at 3:06 PM

    hey... what did you bribe those birds with that they lined up so perfectly for the pic...smiles..
    i love the beach in winter as well...the rough winds...the fresh air...cleansing the palate...yep.. the palate of the mind as well...

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  13. colleenJanuary 7, 2014 at 3:09 PM

    I love where this poem took me, the pelicans and quiet evening prayer after all the splash and cold. Endings are hard and you brought this to a beautiful conclusion.

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  14. Brian MillerJanuary 7, 2014 at 3:16 PM

    have been to the winter beach... a little north of there...its still a peaceful place to be...a little more coarse but it still has the same spell on me....

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  15. MaryJanuary 7, 2014 at 3:40 PM

    I think what struck me most was the comparison between visiting a beach in January and visiting a beach in June. Each time has its own different kind of beauty. Your words made me reflect on the similarities and the differences & made me realize that perhaps a January beach visit would have its charm!!

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  16. alan1704January 7, 2014 at 3:56 PM

    pelicans glide - that is just magical, beautifully done

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  17. SusanJanuary 7, 2014 at 4:03 PM

    You always get me with those pelicans! I used to hang out with them a few miles north, early mornings at Virginia Beach. There they would be lined up with the waves, often with playful dolphins beneath in ccomplete parallel. And I totally know what you mean about the ice cream and sherbert comparison. I like the winter beach and love this poem's images and comparisons, one snapshot after another.

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  18. brudbergJanuary 7, 2014 at 4:27 PM

    A winter beach is something different.. but so much better in many ways... love the ice-cream reference.. hope there was a fireplace to greet you afterwards

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  19. Ginny BrannanJanuary 7, 2014 at 4:35 PM

    Beautiful Margaret, I can smell the sharp salt air in the January breeze. Would love to be running on the beach along with you. Thank you for taking us there!

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  20. HisFireFlyJanuary 7, 2014 at 4:37 PM

    thank you for the journey
    the walk through
    lingers on my skin

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  21. GabriellaJanuary 7, 2014 at 4:58 PM

    I like the atmosphere in your poem, Margaret!
    I always enjoy walks the beach no matter when, and even more so when there are few people there and we can appreciate what we see, smell and hear.

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  22. enthusiastically, dawnJanuary 7, 2014 at 5:42 PM

    I love the beach in Winter. No tourists, and the beach is mine, mine, mine. I know , selfish. But still beautiful words, and images. And yes, it is refreshing...although I popped by the beach here in Rhode Island today, and it was FREEZING. I still took a picture. Beautiful poem.

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  23. UnknownJanuary 7, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    I love the feel of a winter beach... it's really like a whole new destination... esp bundled up with a lover... smiles

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  24. Glenn ButtkusJanuary 7, 2014 at 6:07 PM

    Here in WA state, it is always best to visit the Pacific beach in winter; so few people, better driftwood & Japanese artifacts; your poem was coldly delicious; could smell the kelp, see the shells & bird feathers.

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  25. Ron ShieldsJanuary 7, 2014 at 6:25 PM

    Your poem makes me so homesick for the beach in Maine. I particularly like the way you close the poem...days like that call out for the evening prayer.

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  26. Jay BlueJanuary 7, 2014 at 6:26 PM

    Beautiful images in both photos and words. Love the feeling. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Audrey Howitt aka DivaloungerJanuary 7, 2014 at 7:30 PM

    This is beautiful! I am reminded that life is a prayer when noticed and offered

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  28. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2014 at 7:42 PM

    This has beautiful imagery and a sweet musicality. Really, really nice! I want to be there.

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  29. Kate SoloJanuary 7, 2014 at 8:08 PM

    Very nice share of a scene. Loved all the imagery in this. :-)

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  30. DandKblogJanuary 7, 2014 at 8:32 PM

    What a wonderful write. My favorite lines:
    "glance upwards as pelicans
    glide single file against the soothing sky,
    become our evening prayer." Beautiful

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  31. Other MaryJanuary 7, 2014 at 8:52 PM

    This is a lovely winter write. And your closing lines are truely wonderful.

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  32. Kathy ReedJanuary 7, 2014 at 9:22 PM

    Thanks for sharing..cleansing, indeed! I live close to the Puget Sound and even though it's not exactly the Pacific Ocean, it flows right to it and it's little beaches are special...especially in the winter as you so well describe..

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  33. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2014 at 9:36 PM

    something about a stone smoothed by waves and time - as somehow our imperfections might be made right.

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  34. signed...bkmJanuary 7, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    kind of like the difference between
    chocolate chip mint ice cream
    and rainbow sherbet:
    one caters to the sweet tooth,
    the other cleanses the palate.

    love your chip and sherbet seasons...experiences that make up our life...bkm

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  35. TruedessaJanuary 7, 2014 at 10:40 PM

    The beach in winter has a different feel but, the allure is still there
    as the waves sing at a different tempo.

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  36. UnknownJanuary 8, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    You've brought to life a scene at the beach in my favorite season. As I sit in my desert home, I close my eyes and feel the breeze, hear the surf.

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  37. UnknownJanuary 8, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    You've brought to life a scene at the beach in my favorite season. As I sit in my desert home, I close my eyes and feel the breeze, hear the surf.

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  38. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2014 at 12:47 PM

    I've never been to a beach in the winter! Your descriptions put me there. Thanks for the trip!

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  39. GraceJanuary 8, 2014 at 1:00 PM

    I like the gifts from the sea ~ Beautiful pictures and thanks for sharing your winter walk in the beach with us ~

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  40. Kathryn DycheJanuary 8, 2014 at 1:54 PM

    I so miss the sea and your words took me there. There is definitely something cleansing about being near the ocean at this time of year.

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  41. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2014 at 2:32 PM

    I grew up on the winter sea - even in summer. to paraphrase Mark Twain, the coldest winter I ever experienced was summer in Monterey. well-caught, Margaret, and happy new year ~

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  42. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2014 at 2:43 PM

    Hanging out the beach is such a relaxing activity. I'm glad you found time to enjoy this, and then got inspired to write about it.

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  43. LauraJanuary 8, 2014 at 5:09 PM

    I love the beach in winter… even when it is cold. When we were kids we used to go down to OC, MD and play on the dunes (that were not protected) all bundled up… so exhilarating… happy memories.

    Your poem and photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us:-)

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  44. Debi SwimJanuary 8, 2014 at 8:09 PM

    This poem makes me want to leave for the beach right now. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

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  45. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2014 at 8:59 PM

    a most swimmingly beautiful Beach swell that sings to my ears! Faithfully your friend ~Debbie

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  46. Katie Mia FrederickJanuary 9, 2014 at 10:04 AM

    Well..i live close to the National Seashores..on the gulf coast..in what i like to think IS the most beautiful beach in the world..along with the most lovely Sunsets ever...

    And these sunsets are the most gorgeous of all in the middle of the Winter...

    And well..i am hot natured so i love to go to the beach in the dead of winter..even if it is 30 degrees F..like it was here recently..

    But oh well..my wife gets cold in the middle of Summer..so i can only imagine..those sunsets..with her..and only enjoy them fully by myself...

    WELl..i could go on and on about my most favorite place the beach..so i'll leave now..with just a happy New Year too ya2...and smiles:) for brightening up my cloudy winter day...it's sunny in here....

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  47. revelationsJanuary 9, 2014 at 11:01 AM

    I so enjoyed this and the picture... there is something magical for me cold weather and the sea... I rarely go to the beach in the summer but late fall and early spring when there are few people it is peaceful to walk the beach...

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