On my family's journey to celebrate my husband's life, I was touched by the beauty of nature, longed for the ocean dancing beyond the beach, and felt a feeling of family togetherness. Looking back on life, I realized that sunshine and the beach were an important part of my marriage. We gathered there with family and friends, listened to concerts, and walked barefoot in the sand. My daughter's wedding took place in a beautiful church, St. Mary of the Isles, a block away from the ocean, so it made sense that one way to honor my husband was to be near the Atlantic Ocean.
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet
and the winds long to play with your hair."
- Kahlil Gibran (one of our favorite authors)
Barefoot At the Beach
standing still on the edge of the shore
I watch children bobbing in and out
like the dolphins in the far distance
flood currents splash to shore
in a rhythmic pattern
sand castles whoosh away and
footprints in the sand dissolve as
the ebb and flow of waves arrive
hidden in my soul, grief lies waiting
for the ocean to wash away sorrow
and the sun to dry the tears
barefoot we stand honoring
the husband, father, and grandfather
who loved us all
©CV, September 2025
Reflective Memory
I walk barefoot
as many others do
along the shore of wet sand.
I listen to cool, lapping waters
create a solemn, sacred moment.
Mindfully, I pause.
My mind and body calm down.
Anxiety lessons, knowing that
healing will be a slow,
God-blessed process
during the journey of life.
©CV, September 2025
This month, the Spiritual Journey group of writers under the leadership of Linda Mitchell is writing to a singular word, barefoot. The prompt is simple and timely for me since my family has been lovers of the ocean, shore, and sand for decades. To honor my husband's life, my small family traveled to three beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean: Cape May, the South Shore of Long Island, and Coney Island. The journey was filled with multiple therapeutic moments.
I borrowed the beautiful logo for Poetry Friday from Margaret Simon, host of the Poetry Friday Roundup. The picture brings me to another slow-down, calming moment or two. Margaret offers a love poem to silence that is lovely enough for several reads.
