The Ocean, Rivers and Ponds

 Pink on the horizon with a touch of blue
Smell of ocean water is calling you.
Whispers of the ocean as the water falls
Morning sheds its light as the seagulls call.

The sky with its splendor seems to say hello
As the morning sun arises casting its own glow
Boats are now arriving as the morning sheds her light
Peaceful is the moment as we pass away the night.

Another peaceful morning as the boats come in
Docks are now filling with the early fishermen,.
Pink sky fades with shimmering of the sun
Another peaceful morning has now begun. 

The sun lights up the sky like a jack-o-lantern on fire
Colors of fall from the early morning till the days end
Leaves brighter than the sky align the road this morning
The Steel-head are running, fishing time with a friend.

Cooler packed, drinks on ice, poles, bait and radio on the boat
Calm waters make for an easy day of navigating today
What better way to spend a day than at Lexington Harbor
When evening falls, we can sit and fish on the dock of the bay

Boats on the water, friend has arrived, time to get the motor running
Peaceful day of fishing, best way I know to spend a pretty morning
We will stay out all day, then fish the night away by lanterns light
Only way to stop us is if mother nature starts a-storming. 

The light of the home
Sight to your soul
Shaded by some
Others let the light show...

The entry to a breeze
Sounds of the early spring
Closed by so many
What each morning brings...

Open or closed
A window will show
The portrait of springtime
Or the new fallen snow...

When you look out a window
What do you truly see
Do you look and listen
Beyond the nearest tree?

Sit and look closely
Listen to what you will hear
The many sounds of nature
Things you should hold dear...

Home is not within walls
It is what surrounds your soul
If you don't look out the window
Then you will never truly know...

You may live in a mansion
High upon a hill
Or in a cottage simply
Set down in a vale,

The most important feature
Of your home will be
The window which you look through
With your heart and truly see...

While some let their light show...
Others pull down the shades
Let your soul be enlightened
By the sounds and sights of the day.

Verdant lawns to sit upon
Ocean breeze in the air
riverbeds to sit and read
without a worry or a care
sit with a friend or alone
a place I once called my home

Red roads to travel on
Kaolin dust abounds
muddy rivers, snake filled trees
dont sit upon the ground
sit and read upon a seat
a place you know no one to meet

Two different places dear to me
each holds it's own sweet mystery
time and distance keeps them apart
both are here within my heart
hope one day that I can be
where home is not a mystery

One day I hope to know that where I stay
Will be peaceful and wash all tears away 

I woke today Looked around

Sun is shining Don't hear a sound

Life in the mountains Some may say

Is boring to them It brightens my day.

No worry of crime or sirens to blare

Spend time with neighbors They really do care.

Invites to dinner Time to just sit

I do not get bored Not one little bit

Our house is not fancy Not big, not at all

It is perfect Without many interior walls.

Yes, there are windows; only one solid door

The only room that needs one Why do you need more?

I look out the window Sun shining on my face

Quite content in my mountain home space

So, when you wake up Look around you and see

Do you count your blessings, or do you feel misery?

If you feel the latter, then it is time for a move

A home should be happy, and you should be too.

Tony said he left his heart in San Francisco
I say your heart is where you want to stay
Some may say they lost it in love
Then some left it in the Sierra Madre

Where ever you feel welcomed and wanted
Surely is where you will find
Your heart filled with love and laughter
And peace will fill your mind.

If home is where the heart is
Then home we all want to be
Not a building of sticks and stones
But a place where our heart is free.

Free as an eagle, to soar way up high
To a place where dreams come true
A place where you long to be
When your day begins and when it is through.

Be it the mountains, ocean or plains
Where you decide to be
Make sure you find peace in your life
And that your heart is set free.

Tomorrow when you arise
Look around you and ask yourself this
Is this a home or just a house
Is there something in life I miss?

Life is too short to settle for less
Than what our dreams may hold
Get up and make changes if you need
Life is not made of silver or gold.

Money can not buy you love
The Beatles sang this in a song
So follow your heart till you find home
And you then can never go wrong.

Some may find their heart in San Fran
Others on the coast of Maine
Whichever coast or somewhere in between
Is right if it calls your name.

I stand on the rail
Listening to the crashing waves
Against the barnacle covered rocks below
The moon casting it's light
Over the dark depths of the ocean
Jagged rocks now covered with snow.

Stairs that twist upward
To the lantern room
A place to read by the light of the moon
Beacon rhythmically calling to those lost at sea
As I stand and watch from my balcony.

Attached to this tower so tall and grand
Is a simple home and farmhouse stand
A place to entertain my guests each day
As we watch the boats sailing in the bay

My kitchen is the room I like the most
In my dream home here on the coast
Always something cooking for a guest
Putting the green porcelain Windsor to the test.

Just as the light casts it's arms out to the sea
My doors are always open to friends and family
For a cup of coffee or afternoon scones and tea
My home would not be a dream if it were just me

I stand on the rocks
Looking out to the shore
Listening to the gulls, who could ask for more
Watching the whales in August, Puffins in May
An artists dream sits on the coast of Maine

A home needs to be more than bricks or wood
Your dreams come true as they truly should
Filled with love and peace, windows to the sea
Be the happiest place for me to be.
 

born in New England
chilly winter nights
frost on the window
stars are shiny bright
waves crash on the shoreline
moonbeams across the lake
life in New England
nothing more can be so great
...
four seasons to play in
winter brings a lot of fun
snowmobiles and snowmen
snowball fight for everyone
building a castle and angels in the snow
stars cast their light for all the world to know
the beauty of winter, all it’s wonders now to show

summer comes with sunshine
picnics in the park,
moonlit nights, counting stars
taking walks after dark
boating on the waters,
cool breeze in your hair
hand in hand walk on the beach
showing all around you care

four seasons to play in
and then a fifth one too
in the midst of springtime
mud season shines right through
brings with it an added joy
to those who like to bog
in the mud with tires high
watch sittin’ atop a log

autumn comes with colors
apple pickin’, harvest moon,
playing in the leaves
snow will come real soon
carving the pumpkins,
baking pies all the day
family gathering round the table
so many blessings have come our way

four seasons to play in
each one has it’s own joy
from summer fun to winter snow
for every girl and boy
whatever the time of year
you can be sure to know
lifetime in New England
Enjoy it and take it slow. 

I want to go home
Where daisies will grow
where when it gets cold
We can play in the snow
I want to sit still
and hear the sounds of the sea
crashing to shore
smell of salt in the breeze

I want to sit under
An apple tree tall
In a meadow of flowers
Be it spring, summer or fall
I want to see snowmen
Adorning neighbors yards
While parents are busy
shoveling out trucks and cars...

I want to hear crickets
As the day turns to night
The Aurora Borealis
Such a wonderful sight...
I want to drive up to
The mountains and hear
Sounds of the forest
The moose and the deer...

I want to go fishing
Off a wall made of stone
Where I know that I'll never
Be fishing alone...
I want to go home
In my mind I just did
To a place I remember
When I was a kid.

I dream of a place I called home
where the salt waters foam
and in the sand you can lay all day long
without getting bit
by sand fleas or a tick
and where nothing seems to be wrong...

Home, home back in Maine
where in the summers it rains
usually at night, the sun shines all day
but the winter will bring
snow fit for a king
each season allows for much play.

For those who have not lived
in a place such as this
in your mind you think it's not so
how can one truly find
a place with peace of this kind
in a land that gets covered in snow?

.

I know a place, not too far away
Artisans work and there they play
Peaceful world, no crime to be found
A place where there is joy all around.
When at this place, relaxed I will be
With friends and relaxing so peacefully
At this time, not a place I can stay
But I think about going there every day.
No traffic, no crime, no stress do I feel
A place where life and love feel so real.
I know this place, one day will be home
Not for full time, but when I am gone
I will be at another place so dear to me
A place filled with love of family
Live in the north when the weather is nice
Then come to the south to avoid all the ice
This would surely be a dream come true
To be able to share the best of both worlds.
I know a place, actually two I shall say
That will be home, and then, not so far away.

written 21Feb2016 (when I did not think we'd be able to live in Mentone full time, thank God for answered prayers)

Lookout Mountain home
No more shall I roam
Looking for a place to call my own
Air is fresh and clear
Lots of water near
Looking around I feel nothing to fear.

When you can call a house a home then
And looking around you there are friends
Looking back on life and where you been
You'll never have to pack that truck again

Deer and turkeys all about
Country it is all about
Looking for that castle in the cloud
Time for coffee and for tea
With friends and family
Looking around I know that I am free

When you can find peace within your heart
And looking around you is a brand new start
Looking back you know that you done your part
You'll never have to put the horse before the cart.

Lookout Mountain dream
Is now all I see
Looking for and found eternity
Life is fresh and new
So much now to do
Looking around and praise God too.

When you can look around see only peace
And looking around you know for sure at least
Looking back no more will you see
You'll never have to give up on your dream

I have traveled from Georgia to Maine
Gone by train, bus, car and plane
Seen many hills, lakes and streams
Ocean breezes and summer rains
Following nature to fill my dreams.
When in Maine the ocean is where I long to be
Sit and listen to the waves and smell the sea
Ocean breeze whistling through my hair
Walking the beach silently
Sounds of nature fill the air.

Then in the south a different story to tell
Heat and humidity do not do me well
It is in the winter I enjoy much more
In the summer I'm like a turtle in a shell
Wishing for mountains and the oceans shore.
When in Georgia I have searched for a place
Where rivers are clear, cool breeze on your face
I did not find it till I crossed the state line
And I found it in a rare and unusual place
A place of peace, a step back in time.

A place to call home
Known as Mentone
High on the mountain
Life's peaceful fountain

Flowing rivers and streams
Following life's dreams
Peace flows like the river
God sure does deliver
Calm comes from the breeze
You find all that you need.
Some may say it's too quiet
Glad not all will try it
Then the peace'd go away
If too many wanted to stay

High on the mountain
In life's peaceful fountain
Known as Mentone
A place to call home.

I did not know the mountains of Alabama

The Georgia heat I heard of in song

I was raised with cool ocean breezes

And winters that lasted oh so long

I now know the mountains and country

In a quaint little town of Mentone

A place well-hidden and kept from many

No other place would I like to call home.

For many years I dreamed of returning

To New England with its rocky coast

Then realized it was now just a memory

I found a place that I like the most

A place with no crime, 

Do not have to lock doors

With neighbors so friendly

Who could ask for more?

But more there is, 

You would not believe

Till you go up on that mountain

And feel the cool breeze

The peace will take over

God’s presence is there

To spend time outdoors

Without pain or despair

I’d not gone to Alabama

Where my Grampy was born

But since I’ve been there

I know it’s where I belong.

Must be in the blood

When I go up in those hills

Do not want to leave

My heart remains still.

One day soon I know it will be

More than a visit, it will be home

In those mountains of Alabama

In a quiet place called Mentone.

Sitting here all alone

Thinking about my mountain home

It may not be on the shore

But it offers so much more

Than this cold, but humid town

Be warmer if folk were around.

The heat outside is surely there

What a difference if folk would care

Lived here six years, visitors few

Not the way I've ever been really used to

A knock on the door was a daily thing

If not a knock, the phone would ring

Now it's neither, as I sit here alone

Thinking about my mountain home. 

Used to dance, used to sing

Days gone by, memories bring

Walks on the beach, walks at night

Days of laughter always felt right

Cups of coffee, cups of tea

Days filled with laughter and company

Talks with children, talks with friends

Days were so much fun, did not want to end

Saturday night, Sunday morn

Days go by like a winter storm

Monday comes, to work I go

Thursday night, I'll get to go home. 

I will dance, I will sing

Days in Mentone, new memories'll bring

Let's go back to cabin number four where we once ventured years before the sky was bright the stream was clear love and laughter we found so dear  

Let's go back to those northern pines where grass was green, let's taste some wines sit and have a picnic in the park then go sit by the fire after dark  

Let's light the candles, dim the lights sit and stare at the shadows of the nights while the moon down upon us casts its glow you sit on the porch and strum your banjo  

Let's go inside cabin number four where we once ventured years before make love till the dawn shows it's morning dew love and laughter we'll find in all that we do.  

Brittle pines, ice is falling

Winter weather once again is calling
Georgia folk to dress up warm
Prepare themselves for another storm.
Branches crackle, limbs are falling
Across the roads, traffic stalling
Georgia folk should stay at home
Prepare themselves for the snow.

Winter only knocks now and then
In the southern state where I have been
And when it does, no wish to answer
Snow and ice spell much disaster.

Shoppers out, ain't no stalling
When for ice they are calling
Georgia folk tend to be scared
And shop for things to be prepared.
Power outage, folk are calling
Line crews out, lines are falling
Georgia folk are without lights
Not prepared for the cold nights.

Sunshine falls now upon the trees
where snow and ice left much debris
Cleanup begins, all work together
Till the next round of stormy weather. 

55 hours in darkness, a new thing to the south
I wished hard for snow, now I shut my mouth
what I got was ice, what a pretty sight
and was nice to read, by only candlelight.

The things we forget with this modern tech
how to dress in layers, cuddle in a blanket
to read a book, play cards, sit and talk
enjoy family time while sitting in the dark.

No shower was something I'd not like to repeat
or having cold sandwiches or cereal to eat
but to share the moments with family
I'd shut off the power now and again you see.

By choice, it would surely be a fun time
Not having to wait for power to be back online
Flip the switch, read and share through the night
55 hours of darkness actually turned on the light.

(one I will most likely come back and re-write, train of thought got derailed a few times during writing time, but you got the idea)..

Moved down south to the land of cotton
Folk back home never forgotten
Rivers muddy compared to seas of blue
There ain’t nothin’ this country girl can’t do.
I’ll chase a rainbow o’er the horizon
My grandkids I’ll keep surprisen’
Most precious gift that God can give
Is the ongoing will in life to live.

Moved down south to the Georgia sun
Left the ocean back home, now there is none
Red dirt roads not wide enough for two
There ain’t nothin’ this country girl can’t do.
I’ll catch a falling star, send it back to the sky
Watch as my children grow, each day passing by
Most precious gift that God can give
Is the ongoing will in life to live.

Moved down south where a lady is a peach
Family and friends now so far out of reach
Days to spend outdoors, number but a few
but there still ain’t nothin’ this country girl can’t do.
I’ll chase a rainbow o’er the horizon
Family and friends I’ll keep on surprisen’
Most precious gift that God can give
Is the ongoing will in life to live.

(now live in Alabama, so need to write a new poem again)