Atlantic Beach: 2 a.m.
A quiet night.
The moon, exactly sliced in half,
Is poised in perfect symmetry between two sentinel stars.
The beach is empty now.
The waves roll in, though no one watches.
No one sees the endless love affair of earth and sea and sky.
The stars still shine,
The waves roll in, though no one watches.
Past midnight.
Gulls and people sleeping.
Boats at anchor gently rock with lullabies for dreaming sailors.
No one measures now the rhythm of the wind.
The sea oats dance,
The wind still blows, though no one watches.
Peaceful dreams.
Shifting sands converse in whispers.
Silent dunes stand guard as sentinel stars surround the moon on either side.
The ocean sings,
The sea oats dance,
The dunes stand guard, though no one watches.
Infinity.
Motion never ceasing,
Though gulls and people sleep.
The sands converse,
The half-moon shines,
The wind still blows,
The waves roll in,
Though no one watches.
~ written at Atlantic Beach, June 11, 1981
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you for taking me to the beach. Julie, I loved your imagery, especially in the moon, “Is poised in perfect symmetry between two sentinel stars.” A very peaceful and descriptive poem.
Thank you for reading my poem, Margarida, and for leaving such a nice comment. It’s so nice to have a place to publish my poetry! I have several notebooks full of poems from different times of my life, and I am slowly reviewing them to find the ones I would enjoy sharing.
Wow. What a nice poem you have written in Atlantic Beach, Julie. All the description is mild and soothing into my mind and my heart. I love it.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much, Lotchie. I read on one of your comments that you are working on a poem, and also that you are going to school. How exciting! I hope everything goes well for you. I look forward to reading one of your poems.
You’re most welcome.
Yes! You are right about reading my comment. I am on my practicum right now as one of the requirements to finish my course Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management. Thank you for extending your hopeful wish, Julie. I am positive that God will provide my endeavor and future success.
I’m sending you best wishes and prayers for success in your school and in your dreams for the future. You deserve the best!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much.
A beautiful and soothing poem, Julie. It’s so surprising what we find when we look through previous works, isn’t it. Lovely 😊
Hello Carrie. Yes, it is a happy journey to turn the pages of our old writing notebooks. When I read this poem, I’m back at Atlantic Beach 42 years ago, amazed at that perfect half moon which really was poised an equal distance between two stars that to me looked like sentinels. All these years later I can still feel the wonder and the peacefulness of that night when everyone else was… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMy favourite memory from childhood was a camping holiday at Applecross on the west coast of Scotland. We sat eating jacket potatoes that had burned in the bonfire watching the Perseid meteor shower over the sea. It was the most magical thing I’d ever seen. I was only ten.
What an incredible memory, Carrie. Didn’t you write about that experience once on this site? I seem to remember a brief poem about the Perseids – surely that was yours? I too have marveled at the Perseid showers, one of my favorite sky events. The Leonids are also incredible, and the sky is usually darker that time of year.
Yes, that one was mine. Sadly, I haven’t seen them for a few years because of cloud cover. Even the blue moon was subdued by thin cloud. Still got my photo for posterity though.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWhat a peaceful poem. I especially like the phrase, “sentinel stars surround . . .” Its been waiting a while to be shared with us!
Thank you, Susan. As I mentioned in the above comments, this was an actual scene I witnessed when my sons were little and we were at the beach. What a joy to record special moments so that they are always a part of you. I wrote a lot of poetry in 1981, so watch out! 😃
Julie, lovely poem. I like the repeated phrase no-one watches ( although you of course are watching at 2am). The imagery is sublime and the dance of light and sound throughout is very evocative. I wonder whether this would be a suitable poem as a villanelle. You would need a second repeating phrase but you have the talent and a beautiful subject.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHow tranquil and peaceful your poem is. I have enjoyed being alone in this setting. It brings inner peace. Well described, and beautifully worded, Julie.
Thank you Deborah. That night also brought me inner peace, so it is a happy experience to share that feeling.
I hope your drought and heat have lessened a bit as autumn approaches. We finally are having days where the heat index doesn’t exceed 100! I’m looking forward to fall.