"gulf coast dreaming...

a random breeze blows in from the east
cool, wet, full of salt and something more
the weight of dark clouds that roll in from
far out at sea and hover just this side of
the horizon...heavy with sheets of rain that
will wash the beaches clean...

but there are no beaches here where corn
grows high and magnolia blossoms linger
into the month of may

and yet, sitting on our wide front porch steps watching
a bank of steel gray replace the midday blue
I can smell the salt-scented air of the gulf coast
and hear the call of gulls dipping towards
the foam-edged surf, looking for their next meal

yes, sometimes when a storm is brewing,
and the air is heavy with the echo of thunder, 
I narrow my eyes toward the sound of seabirds and
for the briefest of moments,  i can see the place
where the edge of the world meets the sky above
a sailor's tomorrow and beneath the shade of
dogwoods, i feel the white sand of spring break
between my toes...and smile.