Golden light

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Photography: Sunset and Beach Activity

Last week’s quick trip to Dillon Beach for my birthday, was a wonderful reset. I got to watch a magical sunset (joined by my women’s group on Zoom), take a nap, play rummy with my daughter, and listen to the sound of the waves for an entire day.

I also got an unexpected show! The Sonoma County Sheriff, Marin County Fire Department, and CalFire were holding training sessions right on the beach. From the balcony of the house we were staying at, I pretended to be a journalist documenting the scene. It was wild fun and a wonderful way to cap off the trip. They aren’t the best quality, as I was pretty far away and didn’t have my biggest zoom camera, but it was fun to document the entire thing.

Hope you enjoy these photos and let me know if you have a favorite.

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  • These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using various lenses and edited with Lightroom Classic

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Poetry: if I am…

if I am storm clouds rolling across the horizon
     fluffy and pregnant
you are a hungry plant 
     waiting to grow from my gentle release

if I am driftwood carried through the moving waves
     slimy and hallowed out
you are a small child 
     building a fairytale castle from my bones

if I am a weed dying in the sun
    drained and tired
you are a wild bird
    pulling me free to line your nest

if I am muddy water pooling near the shore
     unclear and ugly
you are a vast undercurrent 
     diluting my darkness until I can see

if I am a rock on the lake bottom
     lost and afraid
you are a sea monster 
     pocketing me as your good luck charm

if I am teardrops falling down soft freckled cheeks
     hurting and remembering
you are a golden light 
     reflecting your beauty into my broken heart

NOTE: This poem was inspired by reading fellow poet and friend Neil Reid’s poem “if I Am.” Both our poems are influenced by Derek DelGaudio’s “In & Of Itself.” You can watch it on Hulu if you’re interested. It’s magic.