Neither Out Far Nor In Deep
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.
As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull
The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be-
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.
They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?
Can you tell that I’m on vacation? Yep, Amy and I are
suffering miserably as we sit under an umbrella on the sands of Isle of Palms,
our favorite vacation destination. Admittedly, my life isn’t enough to demand a
vacation; I simply like some time with the sand and the ocean. Amy, on the
other hand, NEEDS a break from life. It’s been too long since she’s had the chance
to escape the demands of each day. At any rate, we’re “sunnying and funning”
here.
The Frost poem above accurately describes most of the folks
around here. We’re tourist from all over the place. I’ve met a man from New
York; I’ve talked with another man from just down the road from where we live;
and I met a family with a dog named Snoopy. Normally, we’d have passed each
other
The beach is where our biggest changes occur. I know that
there I become a much more “laid back” individual. Even my movements are
slower, although aching joints might contribute to that. I sit in a chair, grab
a book and cold drink, and don’t’ move for hours. On occasion, folks stoll
toward the water. Some play in the surf, while others move their chairs to the
water’s edge to allow the waves to wash over their feet. A few make a quick trip
to take quick dips to cool before hustling back to their chairs and umbrellas.
For the most part, vacationers migrate to the ocean to
renew. It’s a place where a men and women can stare out into the distance
without having others think something is seriously wrong with them. We who make
the trip simply look out at the vastness of the ocean in awe. It proves to us
just how insignificant we are in the grander scheme of things.
Staring out not too far nor too deep is our special way of
finding a bit of peace in our lives. Some of us commune with our lord; others
reach major decisions about their lives, whether they concern personal
relationships, financial problems, or work-related concerns. “Away” from it all
is the best place to put balance back into life before returning to it.
Robert Frost knew a great deal about people. Some might say
this poem is about the shallowness of our lives and our inability to find
insight. I’d rather think that Frost knew how important a closeness to nature
is to each person in this world. That’s my take on it, so I’ll end this piece
and return to that view that does so much for me.
