Credits:
Coastal Zen Art – Michelle Olson
Photos – Lorelie Olson
A Pacific Northwest native, I 
have been writing poetry over 40 years. My poems reflect a woman’s journey through the later years, with recurring themes of loss and renewal.
BEACH MEDITATION
Waves are the only sound I hear
white foam melts into the sand
breathing in the seaweed air
the outer world fades away,
all I need lies deep inside
the surf erases everything.
I let go of everything
my own breath is all I hear
I close my eyes and go inside
feel my bare feet in the sand,
breezes blow my grief away
floating out on seaweed air.
Some say love is made of air,
I think it’s made of everything
even what is blown away
returns as echoes we can hear,
stories written in the sand
disappear yet live inside.
I feel a deep stirring deep inside
sense a difference in the air
my hourglass is spilling sand
letting go of everything:
voices that I used to hear
murmuring from far away.
I must put the past away,
let new awareness rise inside
voices I can barely hear
floating on the seaweed air
tell me I have everything:
sky and sun and sea and sand.
Now’s the time to sweep away
all that lingers deep inside
soothing words I need to hear
whisper wisdom through the air,
good can come from everything
silver mirrors once were sand.
The hiss of foam is all I hear
the ocean laps against the sand
peace and calm float on the air
serenity lies deep inside.
To read Cathy Ross’s previously posted poem – click here
