The One We Waited For

A poem about spring and Rockport MA

The One We Waited For

 

There had been hints of it

The biting relentless cold had eased

The snow had receded just a touch

And the days seemed to be getting longer

These were the signs that it was coming

 

I’m not sure if it’s a part of getting old

But the winters now seem a little longer

The waiting for spring more difficult

The memories of warmer days quicker to fade

Buried in blizzard upon blizzard

 

As we stepped out of the car at Rockport

I could feel the warmth on my face

And everywhere the snow was melting

The sound of rocks crunched below our feet

As we made our way to the sea-walls

Rejuvenation soared through our beings

 

We stopped to chat with a friendly local

And patted her appreciative little dog

Then returned to the shop lined streets

Most of the shops were still closed

But a few were waking up for another season

We were happy just to peer in the windows

 

After so many months trapped indoors

The fresh salt air was like a reprieve

The scent of smoke from a wood fire

Only made it more heavenly

We made our way down another alley

And enjoyed a different view of the water

 

Tourists were few in number

And we enjoyed the town’s peacefulness

A pleasure normally reserved for its residents

Still; ghosts of the high season could almost be seen

The sun felt so warm on our faces

As we reveled in our leisurely stroll

 

Fishing and pleasure boats laid sleeping in the harbor

Though a hardy salt did return from his morning out

The fishing wharf and charter docks were quiet

And ice still filled a few of the dories tied to the pier below

The water from melting snow rushed through the storm drains

Its sound was soothing and added to our relaxation

 

Our long and pleasant walk made us hungry

And we stopped at quaint harbor side café

Where we dined by a window overlooking the water

The service was unhurried and friendly

The spirit of the day was contagious

The whole town just seemed happy

 

Winter’s long shadow had suddenly faded

The cold now just seemed like a memory

And the promise of days ahead loomed large

Our perception of everything had shifted

Of so many days that had gone before

This was the one we waited for

Reviews

[R. Goebel]

This is the second of your poems that I have read, and both combine storytelling with imagery. It is like you are painting in a landscape one piece at time. The little phrases like "ghosts of the high season" and "a hardy salt" are lovely, and your ability to create images is very strong. In case you are looking for tips (and please feel free to ignore them) here are some things I noticed:
Sometimes when you start to describe something, you write "the sound of" or "the scent of" before hand, and in a few cases I wondered if it might flow just as well without that. For example, when you write "the sound of rocks crunched below our feet," it could be "rocks crunched below our feet."
Also, in the first line of the seventh stanza, I think it might be "lay" instead of "laid." Though with my natural grammar skill (utterly lacking) I'll have to double check.
Overall, a beautiful poem.

[Venusfly73]

Like a Rockwell in words... these poems really put you there. It's a very nice trip!