Dimply in the dapply light,
she danced in joy, my little sprite
the sea breeze tossed her springly hair
while seabirds squawckled in the air
she skipped upon the golden sand
till her father took her by the hand,
together they walked to wavy sea
(tumbling, white-capped, spumey sea)
where in a Jersey summer rite,
she jumped right in, such pure delight
Day 18, NaPoWriMo. The prompt was to incorporate neologisms, made-up words.
This poem is based on my memory of the first time our older daughter saw the ocean.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This has a real old-world charm about it 🙂
Thank you, Jane! 🙂
So sweet and rhythmic. I love “springly” and “squawckled.”
Thank you, Jennifer. I liked them, too! 🙂
this is a delight! Thank you dear Merril! ❤
Thank you so much, Holly! 🙂
I love this. I wrote something similar in my memoir about my dad taking me out to the “hair combers” in Ocean City, NJ and how safe I felt in his arms. Later, years later, my parents and my husband and I enjoyed the beaches of Ocean City, Then, later, I took my sons to Long Beach Island, NJ. I am with you on this memory of sunshine and innocence on the New Jersey shore presented in a beautiful and poetic way..
Thanks so much, Susan. I’m happy to have sparked some happy memories!
We had many happy summer vacations in Ocean City. 🙂
I love this. What a loving and whimsical portrait! It made me think of the first time I saw the ocean, which I clearly remember, aged 4, in Florida.
Thanks so much, Claudia. I don’t know if my daughter remembers this moment or not–after that, we went down every summer for several years, and we always stayed at the same place.
Merril, I enjoyed the different ways you created words and could picture your daughter with such joy dancing like a sweet sprite. You started it with a perfect, “Dimply in the dapply light. . .”
Thank you, Robin. It was a sweet memory to recall.
Like a childhood chant…wonderful! (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe!
Aren’t these moments like magic?
Yes, it’s a moment my husband and I both remember.
This was a pure delight to read, and brought back some of my own magical memories from the Jersey shore. 🙂
Thank you, Robin!
Skipping with delight
Thank you. 🙂
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The wee sprite with “dimply” appearance in the “dapply light” could be almost any little one when they tear their shoes and shirts off. . . .
Nice to picture your older daughter in this one, Merril. 💕
Brrr! The water may give us goosebumps but those tiny, inner heaters don’t seem to mind, throwing themselves into the “spumey sea.”💦💦
Thank you, Robin. I have such a vivid memory of this.