Monday Morning Musings:
“My soul is full of longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me.”–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Secret of the Sea”
“Look at that sea, girls–all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn’t enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.”
–L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
By the sea, we gather, we four
full of longing to share our secrets–
no special sequences–
but in the way of friends
they flow like waves, rolling to the shore
tumbling, one after another
silvery shadows and thrilling pulses
visions of things almost seen
things that are and things that might be
We embrace and sit in this lovely space
this place in which my friend has found welcome shelter
a temporary place for body, if not heart,
a house between homes,
a loan
where she and her husband have lived
between and around unexpected circumstances—
well, life is chances,
no smooth sailing on this ocean–
sometimes we turn about
sometimes we tack into the wind
begin again,
navigate through a choppy sea
till we are free
to sail calmly and be
So, we
sit in this interim home
where we can hear the water play
(come this way, stay)
and seagulls laugh as they fly about
black-tipped white wings sing in the sky
with the sun glowing warm and high
and the wind sighs from sea and land
spindrift covers windows, cars, my hand. . .
is held out to my friends
we gently hold each other’s hearts
apart too often to know the everyday annoyances
of ailing mothers and troubled kids,
roosted egos, wandering ids–
we talk of husbands and silly cats,
all of the this and all of the that
and move from living room to kitchen
pitch in
(though it is all prepared)
take our chairs
and over quiche
we relax some more, release
and feel a bit at peace. . .
to venture out to see some history of place and space
a concrete ship, a lighthouse, a bunker, the beach,
where we walk a bit and feel
the sand beneath our feet–
in this moment, life is sweet,
away from troubles and toxic tweets,
this faux-summer day
holds us in its sway
I am mesmerized by the tumbling waves
the ocean takes, the ocean saves,
(à bientôt, inside, I say)
as we turn and walk away
back to the not-vacation house
where my friend offers us food and drink
and we sink
into a relaxed state,
where troubles abate,
as we talk and drift
(eyes open, close, open again)
the golden sun beats down through window panes
and slowly in a ball of fire, sinks
extinguished in the sea
we see it after we’ve walked
(ten miles one friend exclaims)
heading for a restaurant, but too long a wait,
no debate
and none of us that hungry anyway
no need to stay
so over pizza we watch Letterman, Seinfeld, and Obama
wishing we could get rid of the current nightmare, drama
and farce, in every moment, tweets and cheats–
the outside world, outside this place–
but even here the temperature drops
and the sun hides the next day, stops
her summer-teasing ways,
and in the morning, we watch branches sway
and the tom-catting chairs dance and prance
out on the deck
and the windows are specked
with salt and rain
we hear the sea
calling. . .
but let it be
to breakfast or brunch
(perhaps call it lunch)
and linger around the table,
unable,
unwilling to part
our lives and thoughts
tumbled like my friend’s sea glass
smoothed and polished by laughter and tears,
friends together,
friends apart
friends in joy, in troubles,
friends for years
we’ve shared our secrets here by the sea
now it’s back to reality,
(we sigh)
we must do this again
spend
time together,
let’s do this, friends–
time flows and bends,
(an arc)
and ripples like the sea
and on it our friendship sails
(an ark)
so, we’ll journey together, and then—
well, we’ll see.
I’m off prompt for Day 16, NaPoWriMo.
Unusual formatting due to WP gremlins and a cat sitting on my keyboard.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
The sea air, sunset, and friends. It doesn’t get much better than that.
You are so right, Ken! Thank you.
My good fortune too to relax with a long-time friend this weekend, in the sun too. I wonder if you watched Letterman’s interview of Obama, a reference I noticed here. Cape May was a place my Aunt Cecilia frequented with her friends.
Thank you, Marian.
We watched Letterman’s Netflix show with Obama and then Seinfeld’s Driving in Cars show with Obama. (A theme.) 🙂
I saw a Mennonite woman and thought of you. I’m glad you had time with your friend.
Glorious, Merril! I could take that as a permanent home.
Thank you, Jane.
My friends sold their house, but it happened before they bought another, and fortunately the owners of this place has let them live there for a few months. They’re moving into their new house at the end of the month.
I’m sure you would love some of the more isolated areas of Cape May–lots of birds and probably foxes and other creatures. Maybe the Jersey Devil, too. 😉
The Jersey Devil sounds like fun! I’m sure I’d love it;
The legend is your kind of story, Jane. I guess people still claim to have encountered the Jersey Devil. 🙂
It’s face has maybe changed over the years.
Perhaps–but who knows? 😉
🙂 Would I recognise it?
I suppose if you’re in the Pine Barrens and see some sort of monster, then that is it–but maybe there are others. 🙂
Sort of monster Family Guy?
😉
And now my Monday is complete after a glorious wander with you all, thank you Merril!!
Awww–thank you, Damien! 🙂
What a wonderful weekend. No better place to be than with friends (and the ocean too!) (K)
There is nothing like the sea!!!! Thank you for jumpstarting my heart today!
Aww–how sweet. Thank you for that, Luanne, and you’re welcome.
Off prompt, but on a roll!
Thanks so much! 🙂
We had similar weekends, I think. Friends, the sea, and the abrupt change in weather. We went out for a hike on Saturday morning and we were overdressed. By the time we got to the beach around noon, we were under-dressed and sorely in need of hats and gloves. Fickle spring.
Beautifully written musings, Merril, as always. 🙂
Thank you, Robin. It stayed warm all day on Saturday, but by Sunday it was cold and damp (then stormy).
Ooops. I got my days mixed up. It was Sunday that the weather did a quick change on us.
🙂
What lucky friends you all are. Times like these are precious and few. You obviously gathered those moments into your hearts.
We did. Thank you, Pam.
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This was a true testament to your long lasting friendship! This is so challenging I this busy, chaotic life we all live in, Merril. Precious time. . . .
Thank you, Robin. Yes. It was a much needed get-together, and it was fortunate we were able to work it out. It was sort of a last minute plan.
It looked like it was a better weekend, less rainy and no winter coats on! 🌞
Yes, we had a summery Saturday that weekend, but then it was a cold and stormy Sunday.
Oh, yes! I do remember that switch in weather here, too.