It’s Poetry Friday and today I am counting my blessings. In these topsy-turvy troubling times, I am feeling lucky that I have a job that allows me to work from home. I am feeling lucky that I have a family who I love and that all of us have roofs over our heads, even when we might be separated. I feel lucky to have a house full of books, good internet connection, food in the fridge and pantry, and so much more. And I feel very very lucky to live where I do, and that this means my daily exercise is on (to me) the most beautiful beach in the world.
Like so many other people I am staying home unless essential, but because I live so close to the beach and because it is never crowded, I am still able to walk on the beach every morning, keeping well more than the required distance from other people (do be assured that this is done within the law, and in fact I am more cautious about any contact with people or surfaces than has been mandated).
Aware that there are so many people who can’t do this, I have been sharing a one minute video of the beach every day, on my Instagram account, using the hashtag #oneminute . I’ve also started adding a selection to Youtube , for anyone who doesn’t have Instagram. The idea is that anyone who needs a minute of waves, water, sunshine, sand, can watch, and breathe with me.
So, for example, you can watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean, and imagine you are there with me – or, if you’d prefer, alone:
I’ve been looking for different angles and, one day, I thought I would try filming my toes. In my head it was a little more artistic than it turned out, but I was able to giggle at myself:
It was only later, after I’d uploaded and shared that I remembered I had done something similar in a less stressful time a few years ago – in fact, back in 2016, when I photographed my toes and wrote an accompanying poem. I had happy toes then, and, when I’m on that beach, I have happy toes now. Here’s that video and poem – I hope your toes can soak up some of that happy today.
Happy Toes
This morning I have happy toes
They’re wriggling in the sand
They’ve carried me here ocean-side
To where the sea meets land
This morning I have happy toes
They’re dancing on the beach
They’re gathering secrets from below
And whispering each to each
This morning I have happy toes
They’re tingling in the waves
They’re laughing at the silly way
The morning sea behaves
This morning I have happy toes
They’ll head home feeling great
But tomorrow they’ll be back here
For another beach play date!
Copyright Sally Murphy 2016
The Poetry Friday Roundup today is at My Juicy Universe, where Heidi is inviting us to all #ShelterInPoems . Catching up on loads of poetry goodness seems a wonderful way to spend a Friday, so check it out. Stay safe, breathe deep.
PS
It seems an age since I decided to have a Read Along (see this post) to celebrate the upcoming release of Worse Things. When I scheduled it, I did not imagine the lockdowns that would be happening around the world. The Read Along is still happening, though – I think we need books more than ever – and I hope you’ll join me, starting next Friday, to read with me.