Northland Christmas Holiday

Green bush pushing

vivid blue

sky and sea

mirroring and expanding

a continuous color palette

thick and mysterious

in the depths

against rocks

where purple and white jellyfish

float aimlessly in communities

with stragglers

left stranded

on the high tide mark

soft and slippery underfoot.

A pair of orange beaked and eyed,

black plumed birds

defend their nest

with bold attack

towards intruders.

Sticks deter them
but their shrieking complaint

is not silenced
until we leave their territory.

The incoming tide
over hot pale sand
creates warm shallows.

Out further the ocean currents
are cold and unforgiving.

The tiny boat bounces over

the wind tipped waves

back to the sweep of beach.

Place of blessed earth

and rest

and re-creation.