FLORIDA 1941.

A WOMAN PICNICKING IN FLORIDA IN 1941 REMEMBERS AN EARLY TIME.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarasota Beach.
You’d been to this place
Before, long before

 

You’d met Earl or his
Sour sister Pearl
Or her friend Mrs

 

Gillespie for this
Picnic on this stretch
Of sand. When was that

 

Now? A girl then. And
Not picnicking. Who
Was it with back then?

 

The Milton boy? Yes.
Him with the dark hair
And big blue eyes. You’d

 

Walked this beach hand in
Hand thinking it love,
Thinking you’d found the

 

Core to your being.
Didn’t of course. It
Hadn’t got too far.

 

You kissed, held hands, spoke
Words, laughed, caressed, but
Nothing more. Least ways

 

You didn’t want to,
Not then, not with him,
Just like that. You stare

 

Out at the sea now.
Earl says, what are you
Gazing at? Ain’t you

 

Seen the sea before?
Pearl sits quiet, deep
In thought. Maybe she

 

Had an adventure
Of love here, who knows.
Mrs Gillespie

 

Eats away and speaks
Small talk between large
Mouthfuls. You recall

 

The Milton boy for
His ardent attempt
At going further,

 

Trying to venture
Beneath your dress back
Then. Smacked his hand of

 

Course. He stopped, withdrew
His hand, frustrated
And sulked. Never got

 

His way though.  He boiled
Up inside, you guess.
Went with that Kelly

 

Girl not long after,
Maybe she gave way,
You don’t know. Smiled a

 

Far bit after that,
The Milton boy, her
On his arm, looking

 

At you with that look
Of his. You look back
At Earl and watch him

 

Eat, holding a dull
Conversation with
Mrs Gillespie

 

Between bites. The sea
And wind seem the same,
The gulls, the smell of

 

Sea and salt and a
Long lost age. Aren’t you
Going to eat? Earl

 

Says. Plenty here, he
Mutters. Pearl stares at
The sea. Maybe she

 

Had a lover once,
But lost it all, you
Muse, just like me.

Reviews

[just rose.]

Your poems are absolutely stunning. This one in particular makes me want to know more of the backstory -- like reading the inside covers of a very compelling book.

[Coyote Poetry]

Poem is amazing. Took me on a walk on a beach. So many good stories in your words. You can tell a good story. Thank you for the photo and words. It was a pleasure to be able to read.
Coyote

[Terry Collett]

Photograph by Marion Post Wolcott. Poem by me & my Muse.