Cape San Blas Haiku

smell of ocean
sound of surf

                                                 walking dogs on deserted beach
                                                 at sunrise
                                                 picking up sea shells

               dogs running off leash
               dancing in sand
               laughing with masters

                                                                                                       and she so serious
                                                                                                       squatting on sand
                                                                                                       picking up dog shit

                                                                           perfectly pink
                                                                           and smaller than a fingernail
                                                                           a scallop shell on the sand

through the sand dune greenery
even the humble rat
leaves a trail

heads through balcony rails
dogs watch bobbing lizard

following coastline
a flight of army black hawks beating
hooah
hooah
hooah


                                                                                            dogs playing in surf
                                                                                            running from waves laughing
                                                                                            smell of ocean

                                surf casters stand waist deep
                                then chest deep in wave
                                as pelicans fly overhead

                                                                                               blue angels over ocean
                                                                                               red umbrella on beach

smell of ocean
sound of surf


                   black kite with a long rainbow tail
                   flying high
                   over the gulf of mexico

                                                                                         grey dolphins
                                                                                         arc through green waves
                                                                                         thunderstorm approaches

                                         lightning strikes ocean
                                         thunderstorm
                                         moves toward shore


smooth and refreshing
superior drinkability
bud light beer

seabirds and swallows
fly for shelter
rain starts to fall

                                         rain on beach sand
                                         smell of boiling shrimp
                                         sound of distant thunder

                 sun sets in ocean
                 horizon grows faint, stars bold
                 sound of surf

                                                                                                                     family at low tide
                                                                                                                     flashlights swinging
                                                                                                                     young girl screams

         windows open front and back
         sea breeze at night

smell of ocean
sound of surf



(SKJ, May 2012)