August Interlude

I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sail's shaking,
And a gray mist on the sea's face,
and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day
with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again,
to the vagrant gypsy life,


To the gull's way and the whale's way,
where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Poem:
Sea Fever
John Masefield
Written in 1900 Photos:
PatStudio
August 2009
Kittery, Maine

Along the shore

Monday promised the best weather of the week so we set out in the early afternoon for a leisurely walk along the shore.

Here, an idyllic spot on the Piscataqua River with a view towards Portsmouth.








Nearly mid-June and the beach roses are in bloom.

Lots of pink ones out but only this solitary white rose was seen along our path heading east from the mouth of the Piscataqua River towards the open ocean.













Art can be found in the most unlikely places.

Here, fallen tree
gnarly
weathered
patina on
exposed roots
sculpted by nature











Great day for a sail.

Have you seen
the sky more blue
the water more serene
than on this day?


Looking from Kittery towards Star Island

great summer retreat
we have spent
peaceful weeks there
summer guests in the
Oceanic Hotel.

I digress from my shoreline stroll. I want to share a picture of the Oceanic Hotel

Nine miles out to sea
and a hundred years ago:
no phones, televisions, radios, automobiles, or computers.
Quiet. Peaceful. Moments


In my avatar, where I'm wearing the crown of balloons and a happy grin? That was taken out at Star as I lay on a late Victorian chaise in a drawing room during a wine and cheese party. There was music and good conversation and a funny balloon man making silly hats that no one was allowed to refuse.

A spring picnic -- ushering in summer activities

It was a beautiful spring day.
Clear and cool, sunny and bright with brisk breeze.

We packed up a picnic, some books and set out for Fort Foster
in Kittery and an afternoon of sun and relaxation.
From this point at Fort Foster one is looking east
and south towards the Isles of Shoals.

Larry:
post-sausage-grilling and flageolets in garlic, tomatoes and wine.
Fully sated. Soaking up the sun. Reading Rex Stout.
I went looking for a less windy spot and
found this one just over the hillock from Larry.
My view was towards pier where children and their families often crab
and the lane going to the main part of the park.