At Rototai I walk
to where the tide’s edge
chatters with the gulls.
Through the shelly rocks
past the river swans
cruising down.
Past the small dogs
cowboys galloping
in the salt sand.
On and out
through the ocean bed
caught in the moon’s pull.
Ears tuned
to the sound
of a waveless sea
the oyster catchers
prreet prreet
and my own breath.
On and out
in the warm sun
eyes on the floating blue.
But the tide
stretches its tongue
licks my toes
and the land is distant.
Unsure I retreat
head down watching the water
and in the sand
the slither marks
of sea worms
and shapes
of stingray’s nests.
(c) Helen McKinlay
Rototai Beach, Golden Bay, tide on way back in.
Rototai, Golden Bay, is one of those very special beaches where the tide disappears into the horizon. A wonderful peaceful place is that sandscape between sea and shore. A place to lie and doze in the sun…to be on a distant planet…but there are the tricky bits…the incoming tide…the possibility of cuddling up to a stingray.
I am posting this poem because I am in the area-though as I write it is a wild and stormy night not conducive to walks on a seascape moon.
Please return to Tuesday Poem hub page edited by Helen Lowe and read Kathleen Jone’s wonderful poem.
Helen, I really like this: the mix of beauty and danger that “is” the sea–as well as line slike this:
“…I walk
to where the tide’s edge
chatters with the gulls.”
Thanks Helen