Hangin' Ten

Cresting a wave of 

frustration and fear, 

it was ride the wave 

or drown. 

Never having surfed 

~ having little choice 

but to ride this wave ~ 

balance on this slippery 

surfboard keeps me afloat.

“I don’t want to not live because of my fear of what could happen.”

~ Laird Hamilton, wave rider

Secret Thngs

Emotional waves are secret things noticed if laughter or sobbing is too loud or raucous to ignore. Then it’s ‘don’t be so silly’ or ‘there, there, it’ll be all right’. 

But silent waves may not be noticed but for an expression that rumples a 

carefully made up face. Inside waves challenge stiff smiles secured to face the public.

“A secret’s worth depends on the people from who it must be kept.”

~ Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

Waves and Water

Daily routine

 ~ a buoy

that has kept me afloat

~ a parasail and board

has kept me riding the waves

in the roiling seas of life.

“In the shapeliness of a life, habit plays its sovereign role.”

~ Mary Oliver, Long Life: Essays and Other Writings

Oceans of Time

Currents curl and roil as

waves roll into shore

frothed with memories ~

one and two and three

lifetimes ago

 Babies born and grown

   Babies born and grown

     Babies born, grow to live

to create their own frothing memories filling oceans of time with turmoil, joys and calm.

“Sometimes we exist long enough to lead the next generation, 

other times, to plant a seed and let its resonations 

of our time here on Earth ripple into new waves.”

~ A.J.Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar

Navigating the Depths

There is a depth to life that runs like a current while we swim thro' waving communities and forests with the tiniest of minnows 

or the grace of dolphins 

as we dive deep, 

skim the surface or 

wade into the waves 

wind currents wrap around mountains and dive deep into valleys while we fly through the skies

like the tiniest hummingbird or as grand as an eagle

wings spanning the depths of moments, space and time

navigating through cloudy and clear skies, forests and grasslands

feeling hope, seeing beauty and singing our songs.

“I go to seek the Great Perhaps.”

~  François Rabelais

Tide Pull

Mounds of words tumble and spread through my mind this morning like speckled, colourful pebbles polished by waves washing up or falling back at the shores of any beach at high tide or low tide

rustling with conversations 

but never showing themselves

until the water recedes

leaving them quiet and still

waiting for the next wave 

to instil them with the energy to speak.

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, 

nor a man perfected without trials.”

~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Waves and Motorcycles

Waves and Motorcycles

‘Naturally ridin’ life’s waves is the only way to get through a day.’ Grandpa Joe was patient with little Ethan. ‘Take a look at those waves out there. Pretty wild, aren’t they? If those waves were comin’ at me, I’d be gettin’ out of the water in a hurry or they’d be takin’ me under! See on the inside of the breakwater. Those waves are movin’ a bit, but at least if I fell overboard, I’d be able to paddle to the dock.’

‘But Grandpa, I just don’t get it. Those guys look so cool! And look at their bikes! What has that got to do with waves?’ Ethan looked up at his grandfather, his blue eyes innocent and curious.

‘Honey, have you ever seen ‘em ride together all at once?’

‘I sure have and they look pretty awesome. Their bikes all shiny and roaring. Serious looking guys! And some of them even have teddy bears on their bikes. Did you ever ride a motorcycle, Grandpa?

‘Didn’t I ever show you the picture of me and my bike? It’s out in the garage. Let’s go home and take a look? Those rides were like ridin'  the waves on the bay on a windy day. Balancin' around each curve, leanin' into them or standin’ straight. Hmm...hmm.” Grandpa lost himself in his memories.

Ethan, his short steps trying to match his Grandpa’s slow stride, followed his hero to the car? Tugging on his Grandpa’s coat, Ethan brought him back. ‘Do you think mom would let me have a motorcycle when I grow up? If you taught me how to ride?’

‘Well, son, we sure can ask her. For now while you’re growin’ up, I’ll teach what I know about waves and motorcycles.”

“The wave is the signature of every experience of life. By understanding 

the nature of waves and their characteristics, and applying that 

understanding to our lives, we can navigate life with a little more grace.”

~ Jeffery R. Anderson, 

The Nature of Things-Navigating Everyday Life with Grace

Gentle Waves

Favourite places and times
roll over each other
all the fun times
all the places where fun was born
polished in gentle waves of memory

“The past beats inside me like a second heart.”

~ John Banville, The Sea

Wind and Waves ~ 2

I was late
Only five minutes
All the rest had left before me
Guilt, disappointment
Blown away by the cold, wild wind. Washed into the waves frothing, rolling and crashing on the rocks and through seaweed.
Being a lone walker filled with possibilities to see and feel the wind and waves.

“Thou strange piece of wild nature!”

~ Colley Cibber

Wind and Waves ~1

Rain 

nourishes and replenishes dry, not quite parched earth

rides red-gold leaves  through eaves into gutters

drips from leaves

trails down darkened tree trunks

washes away dusty dryness.

But today......

Joy springs from the open sky.

Fliers are out in huge numbers ~

Gulls hover in currents at the Point where the wind is the highest.

Parasailor’s fly wind currents in the curve of the shore and bank

bravely miming the grace and strength of the sea birds.

Golden sun glistens, cutting through the wind.

bouncing off curling frothy waves while

flags of thin cloud stream across the broad sky over the channel.

“The winds and the waves are always

on the side of the ablest navigators.”

~ Edward Gibbon

On the Beach

On the beach 
waves lap softly

roll wild, driven 

ebb and flow

to and from shore.

Monochromatic gray chameleon clouds glow

softly at dawning or gloaming

constant sky drift

water bundled in invisible nets.

Winds brush

lightly or in thundering gales

curling waves 

shaping clouds 

no obvious direction but 

to move with the curve of the earth.

“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach,

in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.”

 ~ Rachel Carson

Adjust your sails...

I've never been sailing.

I understand that it's hard work,

attending to subtle nuances of weather

sudden violent changes of

cold wet spray

blazing hot sun

rolling with wind and waves 

to avoid going off course.

At least not too far off course.

Adjust your sails, re-plot your course and accept the wind.

“The key to life is accepting challenges.

Once someone stops doing this, he’s dead.”

~ Bette Davis