Refreshed
Tender morning rain
Nourishing landscape’s spirit—
Heavenly bounty
Embodied
View of morning sky
Peeking above lofty trees—
Life rises to light
Anticipated
Chill of morning air
Catching each northerly breeze—
Summer winks at fall
Early morning’s reversing wind
No longer facing fierce headwind
Life takes comfort in day ahead
Thrilled to be awake, out of bed
Skipjack sailing away from home
Leaving Choptank’s berth, free to roam
Adventure waiting, take it on
Facing nature, ready with brawn
Pride of Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Nathan of Dorchester explores
With summer day’s life-giving breeze
She skims across these waves with ease
Distant river shoreline fading
Chesapeake Bay, now invading
Each crew member tackles his tasks
Loving this boat, each effort basks
With warm breezes, life’s sails now fill
Each port of call, sharing goodwill
The inspiration for this poem comes from my travels to Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Choptank River at Cambridge. While I haven’t sailed on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (yet), it is something I would enjoy experiencing during a future summer trip back to my wife’s hometown.
Originally published March, 2021.
Morning’s stillness breathes
Renewing peace returns home—
Dawn welcomes one back
Afternoon’s hope stirs
Gentle breezes come calling—
Spirit fills each heart
Nightly curtain drops
Horizon’s fading embrace—
Tomorrow’s light waits
Clouds migrate away
Sunrise circulates her warmth—
Morning’s chill escapes
Dancing tree branches
Harmony’s rhythmic movements—
Breath of turbulence
Overcast all day
Gray canvas waits with patience—
Sunset paints with light
Cloudless, morning sky lifting up her shade
Brilliant, yet subtle light cascading down
Generations of peace-filled accolades
Navigating each successful splashdown
Gentle breeze descends with expectant glance
Endlessly sharing her breath every hour
Invitations accepted for each dance
Feeling softness caressing each flower
Moisture gathers along distant skyline
Whisper of rain’s scent filling every space
Better than sweetest aroma of wine
Offering something precious to embrace
Lowering her shade at sunset each night
Dreaming of sunrise’s wakening light
This poem has been crafted as a traditional sonnet with 14 verses, each containing 10 syllables. An intricate rhyming scheme is followed in each stanza with every other verse.
Early morning’s reversing wind
No longer facing fierce headwind
Life takes comfort in day ahead
Thrilled to be awake, out of bed
Skipjack sailing away from home
Leaving Choptank’s berth, free to roam
Adventure waiting, take it on
Facing nature, ready with brawn
Pride of Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Nathan of Dorchester explores
With summer day’s life-giving breeze
She skims across these waves with ease
Distant river shoreline fading
Chesapeake Bay, now invading
Each crew member tackles his tasks
Loving this boat, each effort basks
With warm breezes, life’s sails now fill
Each port of call, sharing goodwill
The inspiration for this poem comes from my travels to Maryland’s Eastern Shore along the Choptank River at Cambridge. While I haven’t sailed on the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (yet), it is something I would enjoy experiencing during a future summer trip back to my wife’s hometown.
