Great Barnegat Bay,
No match for the chill of mighty winter.
Even scarved in saline she cannot withstand its grip
Nor shelter her residents from its icy hand.
Fractured ice flows appear as mirrored plain;
Sea birds scavenge
Spying the cracks and holes for sustenance,
Receiving only a baptism of frigid water in return
Life goes on unfettered beneath her rugged exterior.
Cattails line her shores
Hunched under the weight of snow and ice,
Browned and solid as if petrified.
Nor’easter after nor’easter has taken its toll
Leaving a barren tundra in their wake.
This too shall renew in thaw,
Icy plates melding back into the bay,
Birds once again feasting in their land of plenty,
Cattails finding the strength to stand straight in the warming winds.
Nay this will not be the last,
Her life blood destined to repeat this dance in natures echo,
Yet she perseveres despite all she endures.
This has gone on for time immemorial,
Making her hard–
Strong as steel, unwavering in her resolve.
Still under a summer sun she softens,
Gentle in her warm embrace,
Diamonds reflecting off her fluid gown,
She is a lady,
Loved and cherished by all who know her.
~
~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
Dom, this is lovely.
Thank you Bart, this is where I was raised. I have lived almost 3000 miles away from it for over 10 years now in the desert, quite the change I must say. I still love the place and miss the bay and the ocean.
I grew up at the Jersey Shore and I have a photograph of Barnegat lighthouse on the wall in my house, here in California, to remind me of the beauty there. Thank you for this this beautiful place, such a big part of my childhood.
You are welcome Beth, I grew up on the Barnegat Bay and I am exceptionally familiar with the lighthouse as well. I was back there last week for a funeral and it brought back such memories.
I especially like “scarved in saline”, for some reason, though it’s all great–the description of feminine strength is wonderful. I’m wondering about one thing: is the word “melding” intentional, rather than melting? Just curious.
The suggestion was melting, but I intentionally wanted to use melding. No I haven’t lost my mind (yet), I did this on purpose.
I didn’t think you’d lost your mind (yet)–I suspected it was intentional, and I like melding! Hope it’s okay that I asked, wanted to banter back and forth about word choices for a bit. There are occasions when we can tweak a poem to enrich it by using a word that’s very close to what is “expected” by the reader–such as melting and melding–so I was pleased to see you do that.
Oh I don’t mind at all. It wouldn’t be beyond me to make a mistake and besides that, I do so love to banter back and forth with people. You my friend are one of my favorites to banter with. :)
Oh, you just made my day! And I have fresh apple spice cake–wish you could stop by and have some before I scarf it all down–out of 3 recipes, this one was best (I may decide to post it).
Please do although I am diabetic so I probably would have to settle for smelling it, but oh how I do love it. :)
Oh, I didn’t realize you have diabetes, so sorry–do you maintain a very strict diet? I’m “pre-diabetic”, and shouldn’t be having most of what I cook/bake–so I give most of it away to my neighbor. Last night when I called to offer him “more”, he joked that he’s “wasting away to nothing” and eagerly came up for “take out”.
I’m type 2 so I’m not insulin dependent. I do control it with diet and exercise and over the last year have had my medications reduced from 4 pill down to 2 and I’m hoping that with a further change in diet that I can stop taking them at all. Of course that is just a dream at this point, but I’m going to give it the old college try. And by the way, you have to cheat once in a great while or you will go crazy. :)
Sounds like you’re doing remarkably well, Dom–and taking responsibility for your health is admirable (many people don’t–and I can’t say I’m overly conscientious about my own). The nice thing, then, is that I can offer you virtual desserts/meals and you can have as much as you like! Works for me!
You are right, virtual desserts and meals are not only low calorie, but are also highly satisfying…bring them on. :)
Tonight it’s spaghetti! And I couldn’t resist making a side of hot spinach-artichoke dip…deadly good. Now I’m thinking a pan of brownies (homemade, not Betty C’s) sounds excellent. And by the by, I didn’t do the walk today–we had snow, hail, rain and chilly. I’m such a wimp.
These are some of my favorite foods, and brownies yum, I absolutely love the chewy ones. As far as the walk goes, it is probably better that you wait for better weather, no sense getting hurt.
I had to google this place Dom, it’s beautiful and so is your writing.
Thank you very much. This is where I grew up, a big change from the desert that I live in now.