Staring out at the marina that is my backyard,
I see a mixture of nature’s elements.
A gusty wind blows the plastic windmills and trinkets
that hang on our deck in all directions.
Our Christmas tree quivers in its stand.
A cold draft somehow passes through the sliders
and brushes past the tops of my feet,
giving me a chill as I gaze at the wondrous sights of winter.

The boardwalk surrounding our safe little harbor
and the giant rocks that form the wall around it are white with snow.
It’s difficult to see where the rocks end and the water begins.
My own little corner of the world
sits on the edge of the earth where it meets the sea.
This is where I live and find many sources of inspiration.

Looking out at the Atlantic Ocean before me,
I am mesmerized by the wonders of nature
and awed by the cruelty of winter,
a season so vicious it has turned the calm water of our beautiful marina
into a frozen mass of ugly gray ice and covered its cement slips with snow.
My emotions run wild for it is an incredible sight,
pretty on the one hand and desolate on the other.
Mother Nature has dealt my world a nasty blow.
I hate this bitter cold.

The larger boats remain moored for the winter
in the outer edge of the harbor.
The water is not frozen there.
The wind is fierce.
The vessels rock from side to side.
The deep blue water flows rapidly past them,
dashes of light bouncing off each rippling wave
like pieces of crystal scattered at sea.
Another one of Her tricks? Perhaps.

I long for the return of lazy summer nights
and gentle ocean breezes that cool the hot night air
and touch my cheeks like soft kisses from Heaven as they pass by.
Then, rocking slowly in our glider,
we will sit on the patio enjoying the gentler forces of nature
as we listen to the soothing sounds of summer
and She is back in my good graces once again.