Release and Renewal

Then, at the end of my walk

I came to the place

Where the waters meet the land,

Incessantly moving

In their restless quest

To reduce it to sand.

It was a place of peace

And the sound of birds

Permeated the light breeze,

Wafting scents of salt air,

Replacing the heat of day

With coolness of night.

Without shoes I paced

The damp, fine grains,

Soothing the tiredness

Which drained into the

Surging waters lapping

About my feet.

Cares, unwinding from

My shoulders and my heart,

Fell unbidden into

The frothy waves

To be carried away

And devoured.

Release became

Renewal.

Sometimes we just need to get away to a place that allows us to forget the cares of the day and the burdens of work.  We need to be renewed.  I'm not a fan of a hot sandy beach with the sun beating down, but to me, there is nothing more relaxing than walking along the shore as evening approaches, or early on a cool morning when there are few people about.  Very rarely have I had such experiences because I have lived my life far from the ocean, but the few I have are anchored in my mind in such a way that I can call them up and remember the peaceful feeling.

(Photo taken at Marco Island, Florida, a few years ago.)