Ode to the Monterey Peninsula
We love…
to stand on Lovers Point in the early morning
watching when the waves break
how water droplets rise to form fleeting rainbows.
to walk by Hawk Tower in the early evening
imagining Robinson Jeffers atop
as he waits for the rise of Orion over Carmel Bay.
to sit on the Old Monterey Wharf
spooning seafood chowder in bread bowls
while we wait for our whale watching charter.
to sip wine in a Carmel Valley tasting room
the world looking better
through bottled poetry.
to picnic on Point Lobos at China Cove
half-cursing that seagull who steals
half a tuna sandwich right out of my hand.
to sit by the Carmel River
listening to the symphonic river run
as water moves over its pebbled bed.
But, most of all, we love to meet tourists
vowing "Some day we will make this our home."
As we once said. And did.
We love…
to stand on Lovers Point in the early morning
watching when the waves break
how water droplets rise to form fleeting rainbows.
to walk by Hawk Tower in the early evening
imagining Robinson Jeffers atop
as he waits for the rise of Orion over Carmel Bay.
to sit on the Old Monterey Wharf
spooning seafood chowder in bread bowls
while we wait for our whale watching charter.
to sip wine in a Carmel Valley tasting room
the world looking better
through bottled poetry.
to picnic on Point Lobos at China Cove
half-cursing that seagull who steals
half a tuna sandwich right out of my hand.
to sit by the Carmel River
listening to the symphonic river run
as water moves over its pebbled bed.
But, most of all, we love to meet tourists
vowing "Some day we will make this our home."
As we once said. And did.
Poem by Neal Whitman
Photograph by Elaine Whitman, "Asilomar Sunset, Pacific Grove"
If you would like to participate in this series, send a photo of yourself composing a poem or writing or a picture of a location where you enjoy writing, along with one of your poems (the type/genre of poem doesn't matter). This series will allow us to see the various locations that inspire us or where we go to write.
Neal, reading this poem is like taking a mini vacation, and your wife's photography enhances that effect even moreso. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the journey, Neil & Elaine, both poetry (some familiar, some not)and the beautiful photo.
ReplyDeletePeggy Heinrich
all I can say is "ahhhhhhh." What more needs to be said? : )
ReplyDeleteIt takes a special person to make dreams a reality and the reality into poetry.... Thanks for sharing the dream.
ReplyDeleteNeal, You have appealed to all the senses. It brought the location alive, as if we were all there with you. What a beautifully crafted poem to experience.
ReplyDeleteKarina Klesko