The sand squishes between my toes as I descend into the warm gulf water. The cloudless sky and little fish swirling make me smile. I continue until I cannot touch the bottom and swim the rest of the way to the sand bar. Turning back to look at my home, I am grateful. I could have lost everything, but here she stands, undamaged by the vicious storm. I feel guilty as well—so many lost, so much destruction. But I remind myse...

I remember there were two of them, a man and a woman. They both wore masks? First, they sat me in the chair, then shone a bright light in my face. The man shuffled behind me and began to question my plans for the weekend? I couldn't reply because the woman was busy stuffing something into my mouth. It was horrible! I closed my eyes, I just wanted it to be over. Next thing I remember, someone handed me a glass of water! “R...

I remember that day so clearly. June 14th, 1986. It was the day my childhood best friend died. I was twelve and Joe Collins was nearly twelve, he would have got to be twelve years old if things had turned out… Different. He was coming up the garden path when I opened the front door. It was almost eleven and I had been up for hours. We had talked about building a dam the day before. The closest part of the river to us was...

The gull sails aloft white-crested oceanas smooth as silk, in perfect motioneyes scan the surf for silver glimmersto harvest crops of scaly dinnersA glint, a meal, a hunger realan upward swoop with deft and zealone turn, a hover, then a plungesharp golden beak in deathly lungeQuick splash, a grab, wings pumping roughspraying surf, jaw clenching toughsprat writhing in a fatal snaregills choking on cruel ocean airSnap of th...

As I sit upon the ancient sandWith the faithful sun aboveMy eyes relax in hypnotic calmAs the sea laps with eternal loveSwashing waves of tendernessPush up the satin shoreGentle hands of massageWhich glide down again once moreComfort's sigh infusesAs the sea does glint and danceWith salt-air in my nostrilsI merge into a tranceNo reflection of past or futureIntrudes my supine mindI am there with the watersWe ebb and flow c...

If the water can return, take me away please!If the water can take in, it will never grieve!Someone admires you streaming freely!I wish to swap with you, then I can run capricious!If the water were I, it would weep for sure!If I were the water, I would never look back on anymore!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In spite of the character determines destiny. Life should be...

Glitter water flowingSun flecks on her skinDancing with the riverAs graceful as a nymphFree from care and troublesSmooth unfurrowed browThe visage of an angelWhose serenity is foundOn land her heart weighed heavyLife’s burdens bearing downAfloat, her tresses streamingDressed in her aqueous gownMoving with the currentCleansed of tragic stainWatching her is joyfulRelinquishing her painCelebrate her solaceAs tranquilly she g...

Things are heating up at work. Apparently, spring didn't get the memo that it's her season, and us here in Hawkes Bay have gone straight to summer. It's not a major complaint, though, six months of summer sounds amazing, and it's even better because our Christmas and New Year's are in the summer. Because things are heating up and it's getting hotter, we leave a note for all the parents that they should start packing sun h...

The day dawned bright and clear with a nice steady breeze. Perfect sailing weather, just right for taking RL out for a quick sail. Car loaded, boat and mast; life jackets; rudder (double check) dagger board (double check); paddle just in case. Hit the road! Clearing the base, we head toward the lake.Enter the rec area and head toward the boat launch, wind still perfect, light but steady. We unload the boat and rig for sai...

It was a day just like today I remember, Unseasonably mild for late in October; The trees were still apparelled in splendid colours, The shades of autumn, oranges and reds, rich browns, And brilliant gold, a last defiant display, Before winter took away their summer glory, To leave them naked, stark against the horizon, Or shrouded mysteriously in foggy gloom; Only the sparkle of hoar frost on their branches Or the first...

Fire In The Rain Flickering torch upon windowsill In turbulent air whirls the windmill Red heats the beads of mornings kiss Electrified volt of Terra’s abyss Illuminating glass separates the elements Neither shall embrace in remembrance. Ticks of time resonate the patter of drops Heard as I gaze past the swaying treetops Everlasting Earth, water, air and fire Reclaiming each realm and to each their desire. Aimlessly I pon...

I greet thee in the name of the Great Waters, the all-powerful creator and sustainer, provider and destroyer, which surrounds us and flows through us and sustains us, from whose bosom we all spring and into whose comforting embrace we shall all one day return. On this day, we celebrate the Day of Hydro-Revelation, when the Great Prophet Muktar shared with us all the truth about the Great Waters...and commemorate the Time...

The great blue sea  So endless,  And free  The deep blue sea Millions of miles Wide and deep One would get lost  If wandering too far  But would that be  Such a bad thing? I would not think so  It would give me time  To admire all that is  Around me  The sky, the sun, the sea Great Blue sea Engulf me in your  Beauty

They say her eyes are a sea of blue waves. The waves crash together, The water churning like flames battle. The flames slice at the horizon, And burn the sky. Gentle destruction this is. But wait, Lava pools from the flames, Sliding down the beach over the tan sand. The sand sinks, Falls apart, And is destroyed.

F is for faith that we have in our heartsL is for the love we have for family and friendsO is for openness we should have for one anotherW is for wake, seeing what is around youWe keep flowing like waterHelping one another through life's momentsLaughing and lovingGiving support when it is neededReaching out for everyone to seeFlowing everyday