California Style Morning
Grey stillness clutches morning sky,
not willing to release the sun.
Between the slate horizon line,
low flying seagulls slice the fog.
A piquant smell of saline mist,
released by crashing ocean waves;
drifts hauntly over barren beach.
True nature’s breath of living sea.
White fragments of sand dollars spilled,
along the water’s broken edge.
Low tide’s exposing gift, tossed free –
from tumbling ’round the ocean floor.
Salt air surmounts steep rocky cliffs,
dull silhouettes of coastal trees.
Commanding roar, the siren’s song –
brings high tide, California style.
☮TheMsLvh © 2011
Image source:http://www.thisfabtrek.com
Submitted to We Write Poems #67
*My theme song in the early 70’s, yet I am California native.
California Ink In Motion by TheMsLvh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Leave a Reply
Quick Note about Copyright
California Ink In Motion by TheMsLvh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at themslvh.wordpress.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://themslvh.wordpress.com/copyright-information/
Poets United
Beautiful imagery. You’ve got some great lines in there, “low flying seagulls slice the fog. A piquant smell of saline mist,” amongst others. This poem has a very serene, calming feel. Well written as usual” :)
Foggy August mornings in the coast seams to slow things down. Thank you for you kind comment.!
This is really accomplished. I particularly like the first stanza.
Coming from you ,wow, Thank you so much Viv.
I want to be there! Gloriously descriptive.
Thanks Kim! Love your opinions, for you are an incredible writer yourself!
A really beautiful poem. So calming and soothing. Just what I needed. I want to be there too. Thanks for a lovely composition
Thank you Pervagus or your lovely comment. California is calling you?
Your poem took me back to our visit to one of my favorite places in California, a tiny town called Trinidad. We visited a couple times, last time I saw a river otter on the beach! Thanks for your visit to my blog and your kind words. I look forward to reading more of your beautiful work.
Thank you Anna. I do know Trinidad. Northern Cal I believe, off the Russian River?
It’s 15 miles north of Arcata, a college town, in Northern California, Humbolt County. I’m sorry, I don’t remember the name of the river. We went to Klamath River but I’m not sure if that was in the same area. Gorgeous coastline and Redwoods though.
That is a georgous area! Humbolt has become an interesting area in the past few years. A lot of the locals have moved due to the invasion of a white powder I hear. I love the coastal Redwoods!!
I wrote this about the Redwoods.
https://themslvh.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/to-the-wood-%e2%80%93-a-sonnet/
Clever lady adding such perfect music to this – it reminded me of a morning so long ago. My boyfriend was the cutest surfer ever Ihe really was), and we had slept in his mates car waiting for an early surf. Although I had a stiff neck, and the white roof was black with mosquitos, sitting there on the sand with the slight dampness of the morning as he paddled out was very etheral. Loved this BTW. But I guess you can tell huh? :)
Jo, I am thrilled you have a great memory of this event. Sounds fun! glad my post made you relive it once again. Many times I will be reading someone’s poetry and it brings forth to mind a memory I had forgotten. I just love this community I found. You are one special lady Jo!
I have NO idea why, but the ‘white fragments of sand dollars’ line really got my synapses firing… So much imagery… Wow! You always do this to me! *smile*
Thrilled you like it and inspired you. Thanks CC!
And now I’ve listened to the music… Wow! Even more! Wow! *heading off to write, right away*
Maybe buy an airline ticket too? :)
That’s a great poem to describes the scene so aptly!
Thank you Strummed Words….love the name!
Lovely imagery written in beautiful verse.
Thank you madhumakhi. I continue to discover different forms for expression. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
i’d like to be there :)
i particularly like the image of seagulls slicing the fog.
Thank you Marian
. I truly enjoyed your poem; http://www.runawaysentence.com/2011/08/goodbye-to-all-that.html. JUST STUNNING
aw. *blush*
Thanks Marian. Hope your weekend was grand
Oh, wow. Between photo and your words, I feel like I have just been to the sea. Thank you for that! So beautiful!
Thanks Sherry. I know you long for your beach. I am thrilled I could take you there if only for a moment.
Hello.
You took us right there with this one.
Awesome imagery! California style indeed!
Thanks for sharing.
Remove These Satin Sheets…
Definitely ‘the siren’s song’ to listen along the shorelines of the ocean. Wonderful imagery here. :)
Thank you for your kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the picture of words.
amazing, powerful words. it’s as if i’m already there in the deserted beach.
Wonderful comment Jennifaye. Thank you!
Really loved these last two pieces. I spent a few days riding my motorcycle up Hwy 1 last summer, your words evoked my feelings and the gorgeous scenery along the coast. Thanks!
John,
Hwy 1 is breathtaking. Thrilled I could evoke feelings you had last summer.
Thank you for commenting, always a pleasure to know you have visited.
Absolutely beautiful. Such wonderful imagery and word choice. I loved it. :-)
I can’t believe I have never visited here before! I have added you to my blogroll so I can keep up to date with your blog. It is good to meet you.
Susannah,
I am so honored by your comment. Really NICE to meet you too!
My California mornings were different. I was younger, usually hung over, hanging with friends in a coffee shop.
Wish I could do it over again and be on the cliffs to hear that moment, that perfect moment of the sunrise. Feel smell BE the salt air… Beautiful, my dear. I’m subscribing so I don’t miss any! Amy
Thanks Amy, Welcome to the party!
I am glad you expierenced California in my poems. Thank you for the visit
David, your comments are wonderful. Thank you for visiting
Good heavens! I feel like I should apologise for adding another comment to your extensive list, but I cannot resist anything California and coastal. I just spent a month with my mother in Walnut Creek and she gets the marine layer often enough to remind me of the coast. I also lived in Monterey for several years. You evoked many memories and much nostalgia. Thank you.
margo
Margo, I am thrilled you enjoyed this poem and it brought back memories and loving nostalgia. Your comments are ALWAYS welcome!
So beautiful..
unbrushed
gautami , Thank you, I am off to read your link. Thank you for commenting and visiting.
Lovely – wish I were there!
Marey, There is something special about then entire West Coast of US. Thank you for commenting.
Ah this was like a poem of home. Much enjoyed, thanks!
Randy, You home being in California? Thank you for your time and comment.
Beautiful description of the coast. I could smell the salt in the air.
Pamela
That is a wonderful comment. To paint a picture with words so the reader can actually smell salt air is the best compliment an author can receive. Thank you.
Gray mornings over a rocky coast can be breathtakingly beautiful. I love your line “not willing to release the sun.” Very cool.
Crystal, Coastal California fog has a way of sticking around for days. Then suddenly the sun pops out like a big birthday present. Thank you for your wonderful comment and your visit.
Captured well, vibrant imagery fills the many senses taking me back to the other nights evening stroll.
Reflections, perhaps we stroll the same beach. Thank you for your time and comment.
nice…you bring the beach alive.. a great place for texture…i miss living near the beach, used to dive for sand dollars and shells when we lived in FL…you engage all the senses and makes me long for it all the more…
Lots of texture here on the beach. Nice write.
When I lived on the coastside, I loved the bit of fog, then the sun breaking through. I was about 1/2 mile away from the ocean (Half Moon Bay) and after work would walk down and sit on a rock on a cliff to de-stress. The main issue for me, and why we moved away, was the cost of property and commuting into UCSF. We had a condo but wanted to garden. There are so many trade-offs in life. You poetry was a trip back to a serene setting. Now living in the desert I have different kinds of texture and beauty and love those too. Thanks for linking this to dVErse. Nice take on the prompt. Victoria
Victoria, I just love comments like your that elaborate. Thank you for writing an incredible comment!
Thank you for your kind words when you visited my blog.
I hope to read lots more of your works as time goes on.
Peace. Siggi on the Downeast Coast of Maine
Nice coastal imagery with a coastal, California pace. Very nice!
Thank you Zum. Glad you enjoyed the California pace
A piquant smell of saline mist, > great line
Thanks Luke.
Such a beautiful photo, with the words to bring it to sensory life. Many exquisite lines, but I really like how you worded these:
White fragments of sand dollars spilled,
along the water’s broken edge…
This is gorgeous, fully evokes the magic of the coastal scene.
Such a beautiful poem and photo – love the melodic lilt of your words and all of the lovely images of the sea……..it made me homesick, of course, that’s a given. And look at you, with so many comments. Wowzers, kiddo! That’s fantastic. You hit the poetry scene running:) I’m glad!
nothing like a beach morning. fog and salt and everything feels ageless. … beautiful.
The first verse grabbed in its clutches alright…
I find the smell of the sea as alluring as its sounds and sight. Thank you for participating in this prompt.
Reblogged this on California Ink in Motion.