Sea-soning

Hello, This is My Cello, Cecily

—Poems and Photos of Oregon Coast 

by Janet L. Pantoja, Woodinville, WA

 

MUSICALLY DISTANCED

A lone
cello intones . . .
plays unaccompanied
Bach, Corelli, Handel, The Swan . . .
alone.

________________

CAMARADERIE

Cecily is my best friend—
companion—most of my life.
Consider this fact: she’s a
Cello—there are strings attached—
complicating our friendship.
Carefully tuned, she’s a dear . . .
carelessly played, she’s bizarre!

Contemplate her moods: while she
can be entertaining, yet
cross her, and she unleashes
considerable fury.
Complex like a human, she’s
changeable, making for a
curious relationship. 

JOYLESS?

Julip stood by the Creekside.
Judging from her expression—
Joyful no longer—she seemed
Just to stare. A teardrop fell,
Joined the water below her.
Jocular times with Clifford
Jettisoned by his death, made

Joyless her days now. They had
Just a wonderful friendship.
Jarred from her reverie, she
Jumped at the touch of a wing.
Jittery now, she wondered,
Joy rising within her breast,
¿Juntos de nuevo?*—she hoped.


*Together again?  

BEACH BUMMING

one afternoon at Damon Point . . .
curious driftwood sculptures there,
lone surfer out in the water
riding the waves—wave after wave—

surfing by himself, he was brave.
Lone surfer out in the water,
curious driftwood sculptures there,
one afternoon at Damon Point*.

*Ocean Shores, WA

FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR

On New Year’s Day, he went fishing;
So the dogs and I walked the beach.
He wanted to catch a salmon;
I wanted to inhale sea air.

This arrangement seemed to be fair;
he wanted to catch a salmon,
so the dogs and I walked the beach
on New Year’s Day.  He went fishing. 

“SEA”-SONED

Stones on the beach honed by the
surf, tumbled about until
smooth, make notable keepsakes,
send meaningful message to
seekers of peace.  Life’s lessons
simulate polished rocks.  Our-
selves become more gracious, soft.

SHOREBIRDS

Sandpipers at water’s edge
Scurry to and fro as waves
Slide back into the ocean.
Sensitive bills probe for food
Submerged in the mud or the
Sand.  Dull their plumage, yet their
Spirit adorns the seashore.

 Janet in Masquerade

MASQUERADE

Muffled voices behind their
Masks—it’s a way of life now.
Marching forward to conquer
Menacing COVID-19,
Men and women are disguised,
Muted, smile-less, except eyes—
Mirrors of joy, sorrow, fear.

SHELTERED

The world has totally shut down,
beholden now to a new crown,
something that should not ever be--
claiming itself reality.
Wiping away human-made gray,
Love, mothers with cleansing ray.
All mankind rests and births anew . . .
finding once more what’s real, good and true.

____________________

Today’s LittleNip:

TOGETHER & APART?
—Janet L. Pantoja

When all is said
            and done—
stay-at-home is
            not the norm . . .
don’t have to be
            six feet apart—
please don’t be
            the one
six feet away—
            from my heart!

____________________

—Medusa, thanking Washington's Janet Pantoja for her fine poetry today in its many forms: Octo, Pleiades, Tuanortsa, Cinquain, as she takes us to the cooling seashore of the North Coast!

 —Public Domain Illustration

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in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.

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