Beaching

To those who love a summer day, the south shore Long Island beaches that I frequent are special places of beauty. While there are many on Long Island, Jones Beach State Park has been renowned as a getaway destination since it opened in 1929. Designed by Robert Moses it became the mecca for summer beach going on Long Island for the middle class. 

www.jonesbeach.org

While I never grew up in this area I often heard of the beauty of the 6.5 miles of white sand beaches that stretched along the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing is believing though. As a young bride, I moved to Long Beach from central New York to my husband's once bachelor apartment at the shore. Most of my family's growing up years were spent at Long Beach and Malibu Beach but recently we have frequented Jones Beach to savor summer moments.

This summer, the beach has been the backdrop for many relaxing moments. Each day that I travel to the beach I am rewarded. Light from the sky intersects the ocean reflecting like jewels across the sea. Frothy waves surge and splash on their way to shore causing children to laugh with glee. Bathers tiptoe to the ocean for their first wave or body jump in depending on how brave they are. Tents are pitched, umbrellas poised as shelters from the sun's rays, and beach blankets of bright hues line the shore. For those who love the ocean, beaching is a favorite pastime on Long Island. 

Ode to the Sea
Pablo Neruda

HERE
Surrounding the island
There's sea.
But what sea?
It's always overflowing.
Says yes,
Then no,
Then no again,
And no,
Says yes
In blue
In sea spray
Raging.
Says no
And no again.
It can't be still.
It stammers
My name is sea.

Read the rest of the poem here.

For your pleasure you can listen to Beyond the Sea as you view stunning photos of the beach.

I am in the process of collecting combined poetry and photograph offerings 

for the global gallery of artistic expressions, Summer Splashings,

that I am creating. You can access the information here.

Now travel to Tabatha Yeatts' site at The Opposite of Indifference for the Poetry Friday Round-up. Tabatha kicks off today's Poetry Friday with a humorous true-story poem.