Sustenance
I feel so small walking along the empty beach
under a blue, never-ending sky
cold, wet sand beneath my feet
waves thundering against the shore.
The ocean is restless
at this secluded Point Reyes beach
footprints in the sand
seagulls alarming ha-ha-ha
a gentle wind sighs
salt air perfumes the afternoon.
A rumpled, red blanket
sand in my hair
warm body holding mine
you are the present moment
everything outside it takes a step back.
Who knew I was parched?
I didn't even know I was thirsty.
Mount Tamalpais
I fall in love with the blue eyes of the Pacific
waves dancing toward shore
and Mount Tamalpais
with deep canyons and sweeping hillside views
and cold fog clinging to the rocky cliffs
redwoods and ferns sipping
the warmth of the day wraps the pines and cypress
perfuming the afternoon with their invigorating fragrance
while the heart of the wind hums through the redwoods
as they whisper secrets to the manzanitas
and a coast live oak, all alone it stands.
A cool breeze fingers my hair
I listen to the voice of the ocean
feel the spirit of the mountain
and when the sun sets up there
night draping itself over Mount Tamalpais
I wonder what she hides beyond the light.
The mountain serves a feast
when I am hungry.
Jacquie Marietta lives in Iowa and her poetry has been published in Lyrical Iowa
and Monterey Poetry Review. She is a retired Research Associate and wrote poetry when not at her lab bench or supervising clinical trials. She lived on the West Coast for a number of years.
I feel so small walking along the empty beach
under a blue, never-ending sky
cold, wet sand beneath my feet
waves thundering against the shore.
The ocean is restless
at this secluded Point Reyes beach
footprints in the sand
seagulls alarming ha-ha-ha
a gentle wind sighs
salt air perfumes the afternoon.
A rumpled, red blanket
sand in my hair
warm body holding mine
you are the present moment
everything outside it takes a step back.
Who knew I was parched?
I didn't even know I was thirsty.
Mount Tamalpais
I fall in love with the blue eyes of the Pacific
waves dancing toward shore
and Mount Tamalpais
with deep canyons and sweeping hillside views
and cold fog clinging to the rocky cliffs
redwoods and ferns sipping
the warmth of the day wraps the pines and cypress
perfuming the afternoon with their invigorating fragrance
while the heart of the wind hums through the redwoods
as they whisper secrets to the manzanitas
and a coast live oak, all alone it stands.
A cool breeze fingers my hair
I listen to the voice of the ocean
feel the spirit of the mountain
and when the sun sets up there
night draping itself over Mount Tamalpais
I wonder what she hides beyond the light.
The mountain serves a feast
when I am hungry.
Jacquie Marietta lives in Iowa and her poetry has been published in Lyrical Iowa
and Monterey Poetry Review. She is a retired Research Associate and wrote poetry when not at her lab bench or supervising clinical trials. She lived on the West Coast for a number of years.