I've always loved water. Perhaps it's growing up in Hawaii–some of my earliest memories are the intense physical sensations of the ocean, the cold of a freshwater stream, the refreshment of an outdoor shower.
Just watching is hypnotizing.
Water is life. 70% of our bodies are water. As the rest of the U.S. goes into fall and being bundled up, we continue to enjoy days in the seventies and an ocean that is just cool enough to be refreshing but never cold.
Water as metaphor. So many moods and layers.
As a mystery writer married to an artist living in Hawaii, perhaps I have occasion to meditate on the many moods of water more than most. We have spectacular sunsets off our deck, most featuring amazing clouds.
clouds are just more water.
Going for Water- Robert Frost
We ran as if to meet the moon
That slowly dawned behind the trees,
The barren boughs without the leaves,
Without the birds, without the breeze.
Each laid on other a staying hand
To listen ere we dared to look,
And in the hush we joined to make
We heard, we knew we heard the brook.
A note as from a single place,
A slender tinkling fall that made
Now drops that floated on the pool
Like pearls, and now a silver blade. – Robert Frost.
I love the brief moment before my footprints are washed away. I was here–or was I?
Am I missing it, to celebrate the warmth of water? I confess I don't miss the ice and snow that are coming for so many.Call me wimpy. I can live with that.
What are some of your favorite water moments?
Those are some amazing pictures, Toby. Living on an island, I take water for granted.
It is, granted! But even so, always amazing.
I grew up on water … the Great Lakes. But we didn’t have as stunning of scenery as where you’re at.
A water moment that stands out? On a sailboat off the Northern California coast at 3 a.m. There was a moon, there was phosphorescence, there was learning to steer a 53 foot sailboat, and navigate at night. I also recall dolphins, but they may be just a figment of my imagination. Everyone else was asleep and/or sick except the captain and me. I made sandwiches slathered with slabs of butter and then peanut butter on top. I will never forget those few hours before dawn, and that dawn is another whole experience!
Wow, what a memory. Thanks so much for sharing that peak moment. I’ve really been intrigued by those moments in which we feel most alive lately.
I love Robert Frost.
Most notably:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Just sharing with you. 😀
Beautiful pictures and sunset. Living on a creek as a boy, there are few moments that don’t include water. Love the Frost poem.
Hi Draven, how wonderful of you to show up and comment! Living on a creek as a boy…. what could be better? Crawdads, swimming, stick boats… it’s all good.
Gorgeous post, Toby. My element is water… I feel dehydrated when I’m out of ocean too long. I have a sailboat moment too. I was eighteen years old sailing from Honolulu to Kauai, it was midnight and I was afraid to steer the boat so I hid at the bow in the spinnaker and my finger touched the water. The phosphorescence was magical. No moon but sparkling light in the dark waters. Swish. Swish swish….