THE LONELY BEACH - by Linda Harnett

 

THE  LONELY  BEACH  by Linda Harnett Oh, how I missed you, Lonely Beach,Where I have left my soul,The rugged rocks surround me,I sit there, lost, alone. Before me is the ocean,The stormy Irish Sea,It comes to me, I’m part of you,And know, you’re part of me. You send a wave to kiss my feet,And then you back away,You tantalise, you hypnotise,You hold me, make me sway. I grip the rock to steady me,Lest I fall in too deep,I’m lost in love for you now,The way back now, so steep. Another wave comes crashing,Bestows a gentle kiss,And now I get to taste you,You linger on my lips. I’m filled now with a passion,For you, I can’t ignore,I’m satisfied, contented,And leave you on the shore.

 

 

AUTUMN - by Aleksandr Pushkin

 

AUTUMN by  Aleksandr Pushkin (a fragment) "What then does not invade my drowsy mind?" (Derzhavin) 1 October's here already; the grove alreadyis shaking from bare branches its last leaves;the breath of autumn begins to ice the roadway,the stream still rushes gurgling past the mill,but the mill pond is frozen; my sporting neighbourhurries off with his pack to the far fields.The winter corn suffers his boisterous pleasure,his yelping hounds disturb the forest's slumber. 2 Now is my time. I bear no love for spring:the floods, the mud, the stink - I feel unhealthy,my blood ferments, longing chokes heart and mind.Better harsh winter; then I can feel happy,I love the snows, and then beneath the moonthe freedom of a sleigh ride, gliding swiftly,a fresh-faced girl, wrapped in sable furs,giving your hand a timid, passionate squeeze. 3 And what a joy to race across the mirrorof frozen ponds with sharp steel on your feet!And the excitement of those winter parties...!But there's a limit; the snow goes on for weeksand months, even a bear at length would sufferfrom boredom. After all, we can't devotea life to sleigh rides with these young Armidasor moping by the stove behind sealed windows. 4 Ah! gorgeous summer, I would love you, butthe heat, the dust, the flies, and the mosquitoes!You torture us; our souls, once rich, grow flat,we suffer like the barren fields, drought-stricken,just longing for some freshness, for a glass -that one thought fills our minds. We miss old winter,and having seen her off with cakes and wine,with ice and ice-cream we recall her reign. 5 People have harsh words for these days of autumn,but, reader, they are dear to me, I lovetheir unassuming light, their quiet beauty.Autumn attracts me like a neglected girlamong her sisters. And, to be quite honest,she is the only one that warms my heart.She has her good points; whimsically dreamingand free from vanity, I find her charms appealing. 6 How can I put it? She perhaps appealsas sometimes a young sufferer from consumptioncatches my eye. Unseen, her death awaits,and without protest, quietly she sickens;she cannot sense the yawning of the grave,but life fades from the lips that still are smiling;a rosy hue still plays around her eyes,today she is alive, tomorrow dies. 7 A mournful time of year! Its sad enchantmentflatters my vision with a parting grace -I love the sumptuous glow of fading nature,the forests clad in crimson and in gold,the shady coolness and the wind's dull roaring,the heavens all shrouded in a billowing mistand the rare gleams of sun, the early hoarfrosts,and distant grey-beard winter's gloomy portents. 8 Each autumn's coming makes me bloom anew;my health is well served by the cold of Russia;I feel a new love for the old routines,sleep has its turn, and after it comes hunger;the blood runs light and cheerful through the veins,desires flock in - happy again, and youthful,I'm full of life again - my organismis like that ( pardon my prosaicism). 9 Tossing his mane, my steed carries his riderover the open flatlands, and beneathhis glistening hooves he rouses up the echoesin frozen valleys and cracks the ringing ice.But then the short day fades, a fire blazesin the forgotten hearth, now casting a bright flame,now crumbling slowly, while I sit there readingor give my drifting thoughts their hour of freedom. 10 And I forget the world, in blissful peaceI am sweetly lulled by my imagination,and poetry awakens in me then;my soul, hard pressed by lyric agitation,trembles, resounds and seeks as if in sleepto surface finally in free expression -and I receive a host of guests unseen,old-time acquaintances, fruits of my dreams, 11 And in my head thoughts spring into existence,and rhymes dance out to meet them, and the handstretches toward the pen, the pen to paper,and verse comes unimpeded pouring out.So a ship, motionless in motionless water,lies dreaming, then suddenly the sailors raceand climb aloft, wind swells the sails, the vesselmoves slowly out, bow cutting through billows, 12 and sails away. Where shall we sail to ...?  Translated from Russian by Peter France

 

 

SEAHORSE - PICTURES + FACTS

 

1. Seahorses are masters of camouflage. Their colors change automatically to blend in to their surroundings. They have pigment sacks in their skin, with 3 main colors, that help them change color based on their surroundings, mood, or mating attitude. As babies, the seahorse is almost see-through, and then gets it’s color once established on a reef or habitat. Sort of like ghost pipe fish, most will live on the same reef their whole life, blending in perfect.

2. Seahorse eyes work independently. This works well in the wild where they have to hide from predators by holding motionless, holding onto their coral with their tail, and watching for food with one eye and danger with the other.

3. Seahorse are horrible swimmers, and mostly resort to catching passing sediment. To catch the tiny sediment, much like many fish, their jaws swiftly open, creating a vacuum suction at the end of their long snouts, sucking in the food rapidly. Frogfish do the same, where they unhinge their jaw and open it rapidly, causing a vacuum effect, while simultaneously lunging forward. The speed is blinding fast.

4. Even though they are fish, seahorses do not have scales, and instead their skin is hard and rough, with each species having different identifying patterns.

5. Males carry the babies. The female inserts the eggs into the male’s pouch, during a swirling mating dance that can last hours. The eggs hatch inside the male, then he gives live birth to tiny babies. In the wild the babies are carried away in the currents to drift until they land on their own reef. Most don’t survive, thats why so many are born each time.

6. The male pregnancy allows females to reproduce eggs faster, making sure more babies are born. A single female can be responsible for many thousands of births, but….

7. Seahorses are monogamous. Yep, they mate for life as a couple. It has even been observed that when one dies, their mate does not look for a new mate. Since the female can start producing eggs right away, she sometimes gets impatient with the male who is still pregnant from the last batch!

8. Seahorses surprisingly have few predators, because they are so boney and undesirable. Crabs however, don’t mind. Their main predator, that has put them at risk, is of course humans. Chinese kill about 150 million of them per year, to use in medicines and things they still believe works today, but actually has no medicinal properties or benefit. They are also taken from the wild, over 1 million per year, and dried out and sold along with seashells as souvenires.

9. Another threat to seahorses, is the aquarium trade/hobby. Over 1 million seahorses are taken from the wild each year to be sold to aquarium dealers, and it is estimated that 1 in 1000 survive that process longer than 6 weeks.

10. There are currently 54 known species of seahorse, the smallest being the pygmy seahorse, and the biggest the big-belly seahorse. It is hard to identify species, as each one can change color and even texture and look different that others. More species are still being discovered.

11. Seahorses have no stomach, so must eat constantly because the food moves so fast threw their digestive track.

12. Did you know that the Latin name for seahorse, Hippocampus, means “Horse Caterpillar”?

13. Females are in charge. They are the ones that initiate mating, and in the wild they have a territory of about 100 sq meters, while males only have a territory of about 0.5 sq meters.

14. Although only 1 in 1000 seahorses survive to adulthood, a seahorse can live up to 3 years in the wild.

15. Seahorses are considered one of the slowest critters in the ocean, with an average top swim speed of 5 feet per hour. Although, the babies do drift in currents, so I guess they get some better speeds!

 16. Just like a finger print, or spots on a whale shark, seahorses each have unique traits that can identify an individual. Its the “coral net”, or a small crown on their head, that is different in shape and color for each.

17. Seahorse can be found in most coastal countries, especially in warmer climates around the equator, such as tropical Bali or Maldives. But they are also seen in colder places like in UK. Of course water pollution has cut the numbers way down, in some areas more than others. In places like Bali, many conservationists are trying to study and protect underwater life, while places like China are the worst offenders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT - by Sheenagh Pugh

THE  OPPORTUNE  MOMENT  by  Sheenagh Pugh     If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it” –     Capt Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl     When you go ashore in that town,     take neither a camera nor a notebook.     However many photographs you upload     of that street, the smell of almond paste     will be missing; the harbour will not sound     of wind slapping on chains. You will read     notes like “Sami church”, later, and know     you saw nothing, never put it where     you could find it again, were never     really there. When you go ashore     in the small port with the rusty trawlers,     there will be fur hawkers who all look     like Genghis Khan on a market stall,     crumbling pavements, roses frozen in bud,     an altar with wool hangings, vessels     like canal ware, a Madonna     with a Russian doll face. When you go     ashore, take nothing but the knowledge     that where you are, you never will be again

THE SUMMER - by Sydney Harris

THE  SUMMER    by  Sydney Harris The saffron-yellow sun grins on top of the beige sand, and the aquamarine waves wash up onto the seashore. The towering palm trees sway from side to side as the gentle wind whistles through the beach. The field of vivid flowers dance and smile underneath the lime colored grass, and the flap of a monarch butterfly's wings soar through the broad meadow. The coconut and lemon ice cream dripping down my hand as the sun melts it like ice. The swimmers sitting on the silver seats and speaking to each other and watching the surfers surf on their surfboards. The sun drifting down as it suddenly gets darker and darker...

WHILE WALKING ON THE BEACH - by Ralph P Quinonez

WHILE  WALKING  ON  THE  BEACH by Ralph P Quinonez You look out into the water; The waves make the most beautiful sound. A place you find peace and comfort, Walking hand in hand and looking around. As you walk toward the water, Sand coats the bottom of your feet. The smell of the sea salt drawing you closer,. The view is so beautiful, oh so sweet. Almost as if it is calling you. Sometimes it's only in your mind. A place to clear your thoughts And leave everything very far behind. You find shells, rocks, and other things. The warmth is like a kiss from up above. Looking out into the Gulf Coast Can only remind you of true love. As the waves come crashing in, Time seems to be standing still. The sun is shining down on you As you walk the beach at your will. Paradise you thought you could never reach. Out in the distance you can see the ships sailing by. Tears of joy for the scene God has put before you, As the moment makes you cry.  Two shadows are together as one, A sign of great unity. A great day full of fun While walking at the beach.

PERMANENCE - by Anonymous

PERMANENCE by Anonymous     The granite shore rebuked the sea:     "Why do you vary hour by hour     Changeful and restless ? Look at me     And learn how quiet matches power."     The sea made answer to the shore:     "Out from the water's boundless reign     The land rose; I was here before.     The shores will sink, but I remain."     Then to the two a Voice replied:     "Both sea and shore will fail and fall;     I only evermore abide,     The source and final home of all."