Recall the roses of summers past,
and the shining water, the glint
of something far beneath–
imagined creatures that swim
while seagulls swoop and laugh
~in summer joy~
we spent those seashore days,
within a golden haze, we walked, ate, read.
Between worlds, unbound by time—it seemed—
we thought—perhaps–it would never end—
the sandcastles, ice cream, and evening carousel rides.
A Puente for my dVerse prompt today. Come join us!
For many years, my husband, our two little girls, and I stayed at the same inn every summer in Ocean City, NJ for a few days in June. We always rented the attic suite, and when we weren’t at the beach or on the boardwalk, we took over their large shaded porch, as we were usually the only guests there.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
You have captured the wonder of summer at the seashore here…I feel as if I have taken a stroll at the beach today! 🙂
Thank you, Linda. I’m so pleased I took you there!😀
Oh those “sandcastles and evening carousel rides,” you make me yearn to visit the ocean! A most beautiful Puente, Merril! 💝💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa! It was a special time. ❤️
I really feel the longing here.. i think that what i feel is that even if summer return again and again, we have changed and the time of sandcastles is gone forever.
Thank you, Björn. Exactly right, and of course, those little girls are grown women now.
What a lovely opening line!
Thank you! 😀
🙂
I love the way you describe the sea as shining with a ‘glint of something far beneath’ and then change focus to the seagulls, like the sweep of a camera from below to above. The bridge is short, sweet and perfect. The internal rhyme days/haze is like a smile.
Thank you so much for the close reading, Kim, and the kind words! Well, who knows what’s beneath the sea? 😀
Merril- When I lived in Philadelphia, I spent a lot of summer weekends ‘down the shore.’ What beautiful memories you have evoked!
Thank you so much, Linda. I didn’t remember that you had lived in Philadelphia. Yes, down the shore!
You’re welcome!
reminds me of holidays with my two children when they were still children. thank you for taking mr back to happy times
I’m so pleased my words took you there! Thank you!
Such fond memories! I have many from my childhood, but we’ve travelled so much I fear my kids won’t have the same. Maybe of visiting family in England, at least!
Thank you, Ingrid. Your kids will have other magical memories and exposure to so many places, cultures, ideas!
Gorgeous and bittersweet remembrance. You’re right, you think it will last forever ❤
Thank you so much, Lisa. Yes, I guess you can’t ever really imagine the future, and in a good time, you want it to last.
You’re very welcome.
Oy. Beginning to end to beginning again to end…Marvelous, evocative Puente Merril. Thanks for introducing me to the form. Awesome work indeed.
Thank you so much, Ron. I appreciate your very kind and enthusiastic comments!
This is absolutely beautiful Merril “Between worlds, unbound by time—it seemed” is such a moving line. Thank you
Thank you so much! I’m pleased you moved you.
Beautiful, Merril. Such lovely memories, too! Thanks for sharing.
This is so very beautiful!
What beautiful summer joys they are. I love those seashore days filled with sandcastles, ice cream, and evening carousel rides. Thanks for the lovely prompt.
What great memories! I enjoyed this poetic peek into your past. ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen!
Beautiful recollection of memories ☺️
Thank you very much, Christine!
Beautifully done Merril! Those days fade to memory so quickly.
Thank you so much, Dwight. Indeed they do.
:>)
The summer vibe penetrates each word and now I’m longing to visit Ocean City! 😍
Thank you, Tricia. It was a good place for a family vacation.
You have really captured all of the senses!
Thank you very much!
The seashore days of summers past captures so much Merril!
Thank you very much, Susan!
Beautifully reminiscent
Thank you so much.
A beautiful puente on Summers past by the sea Merril, such lovely memories 💛
Thank you so much!
crossing back over to summer times we have now almost forgotten – such warmth and joy in your poem
Thank you so much, Laura!
Lovely poem and form!
Thank you!
“sandcastles and evening carousel rides,” Darn, now I really miss the beach! Such lovely warmth in your reminiscing!
Thank you so much! 💙
Ahh, wonderful. We did, we did, think they would never end. And then they did.
Oh! You brought me right back to our annual vacations down to the Jersey shore, camping with my sister and her family and often more friends. Sweet memories. Dang it. I wanted to participate. This working full-time really blows…
Thank you! Those memories sound lovely. The link is still open, and also you can always share for Open Link Night.
They were. So many good ones. Yeah… or just be inspired one day to use it for no good reason 😉
That, too. 😀
Wonderful memories. Reminds me of summer visits to my aunt’s cabin at a lake. I love how you reminisce about endless summers … when I was a child, summers always seemed endless to me … until school started again 😉
Thank you so much. I’m happy I evoked those lakeside summers. I know what you mean about when you’re a child and summer seems to last forever (well, it is a big chunk, if you’ve only lived a few years). But I was thinking more of just how those few days each summer, time seemed to stop and we were just there without schedules and days to just relax.
Oh, indeed, the perception of time will be different for adults. I remember the sense of ease among my aunts and uncles, having a respite from their workday world, the only thing to fuss over is “when are we eating?” 🙂
Yes, when are we eating is always important. 😀
We had a summer beach tradition too, with my brother and his family. It’s still there, “unbound by time”. I can feel it. (K)
How wonderful. Thank you, Kerfe.
Wow, I’m at the tail end of a sweet dragon’s tail. This is a perfect illustration for the form. For 16 years on my wife’s birthday, we would rent a cottage at the ocean at Pacific Beach. We hosted family and friends for four days; such swell memories.
Thank you very much, Glenn.😀 I’m so pleased I brought back some happy memories.
you’ve captured well those indolent days of carefree childhood … all the delights and no idea of the reality!
Thank you so much. Yes, when you’re in the midst of it, you don’t really look past it.
exactly and if we can capture that feeling even for a moment now it’s so special!
💙
When I close my eyes and read your poem – the time at the shore hasn’t ended.
Awwww. . .💙
Beautifully evoked ❤
Thank you so much!
You’re very welcome indeed
Summer joy indeed! I think this place is as beloved to you as Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod is to us. Such wonderful memories evoked here….an idyllic place to vacation with your children.
Thank you very much, Lillian! I’m sure it’s not as beautiful as Provincetown, but it was perfect for us at the time.
Merrill, thank you so much for your comment on my poem. Your poem pulled me right into all your wonderful beach memories. We had similar traditions with our kids, and it was so fun to feel that sunny sandy joy. Thank you 💕
Thank you very much! And you’re welcome!💙
This poem is so beautiful ❤️
Thank you so much! 💙
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