Wednesday 6 June 2018

Late May Afternoon, South Shore PEI, May 2017




Heave- heave-heave-
I feel the thrusting motion of
the ocean as it heaves itself upon the shore, as
a lone song sparrow calls out,
its trill cutting through the brackish air
upon which a great blue heron casts its wings,
heaves, lifts off above salt water marsh next to
rosebushes greening, still leaning after winter's scorn-
the nodding heads of last year's rose hips
adorn the bush that crowns the sparrow as it sings
its song the way it was designed to sing it-
to sea, to shore, to morning time,
its song, enduring ode to life,
bears out life's joys and sorrows 
and we are called to bear witness in equal measure-
yet what bliss this shore contains
in the quiet of a late May afternoon-
tide high, light southerly wind dappling the 
sunlight on the rippled waters as they rush, heave on-
despite our wavering
the tides remain constant in their rhythms
while tidal urges rise within the springtime of all things and
saltwater fecundity bears forth much life-
we're born unaware death awaits-
and what we learn in time we try to keep
mostly forgotten amidst our busyness-
Take note-
the beautiful dandelions are already going to seed 
and fluttering cabbage white butterflies are mating here, now-
and all the while this jagged little coastline
washes red into the waters near--
time's passing whether we choose to notice it, or not 

Jill MacCormack

Photo credit Lucas MacCormack
https://lucas-mac.wixsite.com/nature-photos/about