Emerald, Coral & Teak

1996 COPYRIGHT
BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND

MORNING FILLS MY NOSTRILLS WITH THE OCEAN SMELL
THE SAND IS MOIST AND THE BEACH IS COVERED IN SHELLS
WHERE'S EMERALD WHO LOOKS FOR THE MORNING STAR
IT'S COLD WITHOUT YOUR SWEATER ALONG THE SHORELINE
THE SEA RECEDES AND LEAVES THE OCEAN STONE SHINY AND FINE
I'LL WATCH FROM THE DECK SO YOU WON'T WANDER TOO FAR
YOU CAN SEE THE GULLS DIVING IN WHERE THE COD SWIM
WHERE IT'S SHALLOW YOU CAN SEE STARFISH WHEN IT'S NOT TOO DIM
YOU CAN RUN TO THE FOOT OF THE HILL WHERE THE OCEAN WAVES HALT
AND CLIMB UP THE PATH TO THE HOUSE TO WASH AWAY THE SALT

SUMMERS IN NEW ENGLAND HAVE A BRIEF LIFESPAN
SO YOU SHOULD WALK IN WARM SUNSHINE WHILE YOU STILL CAN
BY THE SHORELINE SITE A BOAT THAT HAS RUN AGROUND
CLIMB INSIDE AND LISTEN TO THE MUFFLED OCEAN SOUNDS
CORAL WALKS BAREFOOT AS SAND GATHERS BETWEEN HIS TOES
HE PICKS UP THE EMPTY SHELLS OF HORSESHOE CRABS
AND BUILDS SAND CASTLES WITH POPSICLE-STICK FLAGS
THEN HE RISES AND SHAKES THE SAND FROM HIS CLOTHES
EMERALD AND CORAL SIT AND LAUGH AS THE DAYLIGHT GOES
AMID THE SMELL OF A COOK-OUT YOU WISH COULD STAY IN YOUR NOSE

SOME NIGHTS WE DRIVE OUT TO P-TOWN WITH THE FAMILY
EMERALD DECORATES HER WRISTS WITH GREEN-GLOWING BRACELETS
CORAL READS A COMIC BOOK AND WEARS A RADIO HEADSET
TEAK IN HIS CARSEAT SMILES AT THE SALT-SPITTING SEA
WE WALK THROUGH TOWN WARMED BY A DUSK-LIGHT SHOWER
AND CLIMB THE STAIRS OF THE PILGRIM MEMORIAL TOWER
WE TREAT THE KIDS TO CANDY AND HOT DOGS ON BUNS
PUSHING TEAK ALONG IN A STROLLER WHILE THE OTHERS RUN
THE TIDE IS DRIVEN IN BY THE POWERFUL LUNAR PULL
SOON THE COTTAGE IS DARK AND THE BEDS ARE FULL