Footprints (from Boyhood Tales)

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jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

0 posted 2001-06-30 10:52 PM

Footsteps
(from Boyhood Tales)

Early morning on a California beach,
that special time between first light
and sunrise is my favorite time
to walk the wave-washed sand.
Most people are still in bed and the beach
is empty except for me, the ocean,
and that special world that exists
where water and shore co-exist.
High tide has receeded; a strip of purged,
smoothed damp sand free of all footprints,
sand-castles, blemishes of any kind now
exist between the line it left at its zenith
and the point where it now resides.
It's this I truly love about the beach in the morning.
It's like an adventure; I walk uncharted terrority;
the first of my kind traversing virgin land.
This morning, though, was different.
Footprints marred the smooth, undimpled surface,
footprints that seemed to just begin out of the air.
They didn't come from anyway; they just began.
~~~
The funny thing about footprints,
especially small ones, size five or so,
is it's hard to tell whether they're male or female,
adult or child, old or young.
I wanted to believe these were female,
young adult, from the sea.
I followed them not wanting to raise my eyes,
not wanting to look down the beach,
not wanting to see who was making them,
not wanting to break the spell
they and I had created this morning.
They never went far from the waters edge,
sometimes disappearing into it for several yards,
then reappearing again,
marking a passage.
~~~
Then they disappeared;
just stopped while walking down the beach.
They didn't go in the water,
they didn't go up the beach,
they just stopped,
disappeared,
just as they had begun,
into the out of…
Looking around I was alone on the beach,
no one in any direction,
just me,
wave washed sand,
and the magic of morning
between the first light of day
and sunrise.

w. james beard, jr.
© June 2001

[This message has been edited by jwesley (edited 06-30-2001).]

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2001-07-01 02:21 AM

Jwesley!!!! How long has this just been sitting here? I did pick and choose lines too btw...but here is the one I love:

where water and shore co-exist.

This has a fantastic metaphysical meaning that just leapt out at me. This speaks of the "Divine Marriage" of consciousness to subconciousness creating the product of SUPERCONCIOUSNESS. (oooh...a trinity, think there's a connection?

)

Thanks me lovely! You have left me aspiring.

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

2 posted 2001-07-01 02:34 AM

This would be an awesome moment...and I can hear Twilight Zone music playing, I hope that doesn't cheapen or lessen what you've shared here...this is a bit spooky, but I rather think of an angel having made them.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

3 posted 2001-07-01 04:58 AM

A pleasure to read...James

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis

since 1999-11-08

Posts 9269
Pennsylvania

4 posted 2001-07-01 05:55 AM

Applauding here!
A captivating and beautiful description of morning, natural forces, dreaming and intrigue.
A very well written piece
Liz

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Footsteps (from Boyhood Tales)

Footsteps
(from Boyhood Tales)