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October Evening by the Sea
by
Beverly Finney


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I want the end of my life to be like
the end of this day by the October sea,
as pale yellow cumulus clouds spread
toward the west reflecting the setting sun.
The dying sky melds into the sea that sways
leisurely toward the shore.
Waves tumble gently in perfectly curled
lines, splash easily in long, foaming tresses
licking softly across a small rise
into a string of wading lakes like
lingering memories catching
the last light of the day.
The diehards shake the sand
from their blankets, fold their chairs,
gather up reluctant children
and sundry provisions, head in,
leaving the sea, the sand and salt air
to its natural peace.
Dusk here is a lullaby that sings the day
into evening, then hums into the night
like the incoming tide drifts onto the strand.
It is the time of the last repast, before
small talk of love and remembrance
that ends with a long sleep.


© by Beverly Finney.
Used with the author's permission.

 

 


Beverly Finney says a chance meeting set her on a writer's path, and a chance reading turned her to poetry. Her love of words, though, has been there from the beginning—fed by family gatherings, the “Sparky” children's radio program, teachers, and school libraries. Beverly's family didn't own a television until she was in high school, leaving much of her youth open to imagination, roaming her grandparents' farms, and reading.  Now retired, she once again has time to enjoy those same things (except roaming the farms, which were broken up and sold off over the years). Instead, these days, Beverly roams everyday places in her hometown of Hickory, North Carolina, listening for stories and “bearing witness”, she says, to the human experience at the heart of her writing.

 

 

 


Post New Comment:
spadenoace:
I love the last stanza [Dusk here is a lullaby that sings the dayinto evening, then hums into the night like the incoming tide drifts onto the strand] There's something incredible longing about the dusk and the lullaby
Posted 10/26/2019 01:00 AM
Jancan:
Superbly descriptive free verse! I especially love the "wading lakes . . . memories" simile.
Posted 10/21/2019 09:00 AM
Lori Levy:
Beautiful!
Posted 10/18/2019 07:24 PM
Michael:
Exquisite poetry, Beverly, that brings the curtain down gently; as if some unseen hand draws everything together like a gift wrapped in velvet ribbons. Thanks you so much!
Posted 10/18/2019 09:35 AM
paradea:
I read this and I am there in October (my favorite time at the beach)! This is beautiful, Beverly!!
Posted 10/18/2019 08:14 AM
Larry Schug:
The first lines shock me, the middle calms me. The last sentence is beautiful.
Posted 10/18/2019 08:03 AM


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