Our Harbor in Edgecomb, Maine
Life Here By The Harbor
2005 Winner of the Boothbay Register Poem Contest
It began with a book. It was a love story. The tale was about a place. You see maybe it was their dream but it was our dream too.
Those novels that speak to you are the novels that mirror your life.
They were an ambitious couple, propelled by long years of education and training for what they hoped would bring rewards.
They lived the fast past city life, paid their dues, achieved their goals but somehow longed for something of a different kind, an unparalleled place by design.
The ocean moved her. The faithful sound of the waves, the smell of the shore. It all brought her serenity. The water has a calming effect. They could both see that.
He was fixated on the mountains. The stillness he felt in the woods. The smell of the balsam brings forth a rush of the senses. Hikes through the brush brought him tranquility.
The woods have a balancing effect. They could both see that.
So they left their busy city life behind to live in balance in that place. The first night they spent in town they shared a meal at a local seafood restaurant.
They watched the sunset and eyed the boats navigating the harbor. They never breathed easier.
It is a village on the water with a charm from another time. Life here seemed to present itself in its simplest form, unadorned and beautiful.
The summers in Maine could seduce the hardest of hearts.
In time, the sand between her toes gave way to the rustling of leaves around her feet. The vibrant colors brought forth warmth in their hearts but a chill in the air sent them to cover up a bit.
Winter will test your loyalty. Slowly the village closed its shops and life grew dark. Some balance was lost.
The summers at the beach and the hikes in the fall brought us wisdom beyond our reach but yet it was the winter that forced us to reflect and recognize our wisdom gained.
Our place is one where the sea surrounds us. The pine trees line our path. The mountains we climb are here to challenge us.
The seas we swim are here to carry us. Life here by the harbor speaks of balance.