to the sea

 

when i saw this picture from our recent family trip to the sea, i wanted to go back to my quiet time at the beach.  i found the ocean to be completely methodical and extraordinarily grand and healing.  the tide ebbs, the tide flows.  out with the old, in with the new.  breathe in.  breathe out.  as small as a world and as large as alone.  i found these wonderful words this morning and they reminded me of the peace in letting go.   

maggie and milly and molly and may

maggie and millie and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

 

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

 

millie befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

 

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

 

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

 

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.

e.e. cummings