the shore

in a private collection

For three days last summer I spent time in Brewster,
Massachusetts and got to watch the tide come in early
on a beautiful summer morning. I set up my easel and
canvas, and then noticed I had forgotten my paints!
I rushed back to the hotel, grabbed the paints and
captured a slightly later morning tide…

I go down to the shore in the morning
and depending on the hour the waves
are rolling in or moving out,
and I say, oh, I am miserable,
what shall—
what should I do? And the sea says
in its lovely voice:
Excuse me, I have work to do.”

— Mary Oliver
”I Go Down to the Shore”