. . . . (Puget Sound)
.
And it rolls out another for you –
one slow buckling wave
serves up cold soupy sea
bearing armor of chiton
and mussel shell blue,
with twists of driftwood
and layers of foam,
crab legs and agates
in dustings of gold.
Now toppling, it rattles
kaleidoscope rocks,
then undulates kelp
in sea-weeding sway
and as barnacles open
to taste the high tide
it rolls out another for you.
.
© 1993 Betty Hayes Albright
Seasonings 
I felt myslef rocking as I read this, Betty – I nearly fell into the water.
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😀 As long as you didn’t get seasick, Martin!
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How wondrous is the sea to”roll out another for you” with “crab legs and agates in dustings of gold”. A wonderland in your very own Oz is the beach, Betty! Completely enchanting reality of a beach visit away from winter to the north!
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Thank you, Granbee – there is nothing like the beach to recharge our batteries, any time of year! 🙂
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Oh, you know I love this! I can hear it, smell it–feel it, like I’m there. This is great–I so needed this today, Betty!
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Caddo, I knew you’d like that one (picture taken down at the beach by Arnie’s) – was thinking of you when posting it. 🙂 Glad it was good timing, Sister of the Sea!
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It rolls and it sways in so many cool ways – good one Betty 🙂
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Thanks, Dennis, glad you liked! 🙂
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Betty, this is as wonderful as usual. It’s a description poem, of course, but what descriptions you come up with! “mussel shell blue” “twists of driftwood” “undulates kelp” This is a way of looking at the world, seeing the details that tell move than they are on the surface. I marvel of how, poem after poem, you come up to a standard that is hard to reach.
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Thomas, thank you – you’re always so encouraging, and that’s greatly appreciated!
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I love all beach poems, very nice Betty! 🙂
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Thanks, Pandamonium Cat – same here about beach poems – love ’em! 🙂
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Wonderful capture of movement sound with the broken rhythm of the sea! I love the image of “rattling kaleidoscope rocks” – well done. 🙂
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Thank you, Planaquarium!
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This is wonderful again. You’ve captured the rhythm of the ocean, its currents and our human interaction with it!
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Thanks, David – (it’s that human interaction with the sea that I crave, and is always hard to express!)
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This is divine, as ever, Betty. I am blessed to be living by the sea at the moment, though I don’t know when the winds of change will blow me to a new shore, or inland. I never stop marvelling at the beauty of the sea and the rhythm of the waves when I walk along side it. You have captured this so very beautifully. Thank you.
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Angela, thank you! I’m glad to hear that you also live close to the sea. It would be hard to live in a land-locked area – (I would get claustrophobia!)
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This is terrific Betty! Your metaphors never cease to amaze me!!!
I am there on the roll of the wave! (With all the bits that make me squirm too!!!! – can’t bear seaweed touching me!!)
Christine
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Glad you rolled with it, Christine. 🙂 Seaweed does tend to be a bit slimy around the ankles, doesn’t it!
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Everyone has already said what I feel, as well! I felt as though I was “there” also, hearing and feeling~just beautiful, Betty! 🙂
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Thank you, Lauren! 🙂
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Oh, my love is the ocean! You have described her in such a way I miss her all the more. Thank you for this beautiful thought
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So glad you enjoyed this one, V W !!! 🙂
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A fine tribute to Puget Sound; “And [Betty] rolls out another for [her followers]”.
Lovely rhymic poem…
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Thanks, Lindy Lee!!! 🙂
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Love it. 🙂
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Great use of colour and imagery.
Excellent work here.
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