Benevolence by the Tide

There is something majestic about the Ocean

that brings so many people to the shore.

A favorite pastime of many,

there is a sense of awe and wonder invented

from the collection of gifts

left by waves that wash up

on the edge of the sandy beaches--

where the water kisses the land.

Every beautiful piece of the Sea

that finally settles on the coastline

has a story to tell,

like You or I.

Each stone, shell or pebble

--much like this one here--

has traveled the daunting waters,

blindly steered and heavily scarred

by the elements of the Atmosphere.

Reminiscent of the relentless proverbial "Tempests of Life"...

…yet each fragment settles peacefully on the shore,

oblivious of its blemishes, and silently slumbering--

lying in wait of the next part of the journey.

 

Are you intrigued by this discovery in your palm?

There is a type of beauty it holds, despite its insignificance.

So many questions, yet no apparent answers...

for a moment, ponder these inquisitions (mere thoughts bred by the many encounters of washed up messages-in-bottles):

When did this potential artifact originate?...

Could it have survived since the beginning of time, experiencing life in eons-- rather than years?

What distance has it traveled accumulatively...

It couldn’t be more than 832 miles (from edge of the shore to your current standing ground)? Or could it have lapped the Earth at 24,901 miles-- the equivalent of one full orbit around the globe-- maybe even three times over?

What is the legacy of this remnant of nature...

In its course of existence, how many lives did it save? Protect? Destroy?

And how did it end up on the South End beaches of New Bedford, Massachusetts, in saltwater that connects us all...

Could this be the remains of a timid mollusk, once migrating from the banks of Iceland?

A hardened shard of volcanic lava adrift from the cliffs of Costa Rica?

Dolomite rubble wayfaring from the tips of the Italian Alps?

A jingle shell vestige globetrotting from the vibrant coasts of Brazil?

Inspect this gem up close...

a Masterpiece, handmade by the waters!

Examine the uniqueness in its shape and color,

bearing resemblance to the core of your Soul.

Just admire the beauty of the Surf's recyclables--

each individual nomadic piece having a plethora of stories to tell,

yet not one mortal could ever fathom the true birth

and voyage

of this creation.

These remains preserve no tongue to share its secrets,

nor is there is a mouth alive to tell about its tireless expedition to its current destination,

[Insert Your Name Here]'s Hands.

Revel in wonder at the gleaming pigments of these treasures that now belong to you...

Tangerine, Silver, Pink, Gold, Periwinkle...is it albino?

Could it very well be that you now own a finished canvass of Deep Blue's craftsmanship--

where he expeditiously and venously

engraved, stained, airbrushed--

attempting to plagiarize the aerial Nirvana (in hopes of capturing its beauty, magnitude and sovereignty)

on the first solid debris he could grasp within his aqueous mass?

…but what if the Great Caspian hung his head down low in sadness

because he found his works of "art"

to be hideous, unavailing, and possessing of no value,

as he threw each piece onto the embankment in disgust?

…would You call these abstractions Repulsive?

 

A final thought to leave You with:

How is water the sustenance of being--

made up of three of the simplest elements,

also existing in three different states of matter;

carrying no smell, taste or color,

yet endlessly proving requisite to the body, mind and soul?

The absence of precious water for three days could mean shriveling away to a dehydrated death,

yet an abundance of it inspires a spiritual dimension of purification, protection, and healing.

How is this simple compound vital to survival, revival and thrival?

The Ocean, and all its benevolence within it, is the heart of our planet.

I find tranquility, repose and reawakening whenever I visit the beach, and I hope I could share a little Peace of its amorous enchantment with you.