Beginnings sounding of arid days with days too many
of sweltering sun, searching for shade, waiting for night
and the coolness setting in softly touching skin in relief
where stepping lightly on asphalt cushioned the burn
until calloused feet screamed less wanting ever only
to walk the sands of beaches and to soak in a saltwater
ocean and close eyes to the brilliance and drift away
to step in life’s millions and millions of footprints
each made with tenuous and anxious anticipation
hands always reaching out trying to touch the future
new beginnings are filled with Nature’s pine and fir
each day more precious than the day before the one
woke up to where quiet is profound in whisperings
and the boughs of trees tremble as the wind touches
each leaf to the tiniest pine needle shouting a presence
that only ever rivals the ocean waves distantly breaking
upon the ocean shores you once trod in the beginning
but never truly the beginning of where those footprints
would lead to another place and new shores not distant
where dreaming in another star filled night only shines
a light on memories old and new that are your life
woven together upon land and sea beginnings
© Reneé Espriu
Photo is My Own Digitized As Art
reneejustturtleflight.com 
Beautiful Renee – I loved the images of heat and relief in the first few lines. You focused me on those feet and the footsteps they would take and have taken, which became more profound as the poem went on. I also had your comment from my post about this part of the landscape of your life in mind when I was reading this.
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Thank you, Andrea. At 70 now and with volumes of life experiences, I view my world in ways no one can ever anticipate will arrive at their door. Life is now new once again and although the thought of it, once again caused me to be anxious, ultimately making the adjustment as it is ongoing can only enhance my life at this time in my life. Thank you for visiting.
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Wonderful Renee…. indeed each day is indeed more precious… No matter how we reach out to worry over the future. Or hold onto the past, We can only live in the moment of Now ..
A lovely poem Renee and Image. Woods are my favourite go to places… 🙂
I hope all is well in your world my friend..
Sending LOVE and hugs your way ❤
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Thank you Sue. I have lived in Washington State most of my life but my beginnings directed my footsteps on my path. I am doing well and I hope you are doing the same. xoxo
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Nice reflections, Renee. Waiting for the nights indeed! Soooo hot here. But nights really cool off significantly. Hope you are doing well! 🌈💕
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The nights where I grew up in CA were the best time after a very hot day. Nights here have yet to cool off substantially but where you are I can see that they would. I am doing well, thank you. Hope you are too.
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Thanks for the update, Renee! Yes, I grew up in the foothills of the San Gabriels in east Pasadena, so I know of what you speak! Take care! 💕
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The world is really a small place in the scheme of things. Thank you for visiting and I hope you are doing well.
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So many lovely images here, Renee. I always enjoy your beautiful writing. (I owe you an email… will try to write soon. Hope you’re enjoying the summer…. take care in the heat the next few days!)
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Thank you Betty. I know you will email when you can and I will also.
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Beautiful ! Life is like that excellent lines 👍
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Thank you for visiting.
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☺️🙏
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Dear Renee,
first of all I want to thank you for taking the time to read my new post. Nowadays I hardly ever do anything on WordPress because I do not have enough time. As always, I really like what you post. Excellent combination of poetry and artwork. I also wait for the nights to come and to cool body, mind and soul. In Catalonia, especially in Barcelona and its surrounding area, there is permanent drought, an environmental, political and a philosophically existential one, which makes me think of T.S.Eliot’s great poem “The Waste Land”, one of my favorites ever. I think there is always HOPE in the world, which I see in your poem and digital art. I also like how you connect the present situation of high temperatures with the freshness of the trees, the ocean, etc. I love this stanza and the contrast you describe:
“where stepping lightly on asphalt cushioned the burn
until calloused feet screamed less wanting ever only
to walk the sands of beaches and to soak in a saltwater
ocean and close eyes to the brilliance and drift away”
And in the following stanza the words “millions and millions of footprints”, “anxious anticipation” and “future” are very powerful. This shifting from the present, past and its memories, and future, makes the whole poem vibrant and vital.
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Thank you for all of your kind words. I write the way that I see the world and as I am a realistic person my view holds both positive and negative observations but I do believe there will always be Hope for if there is not then we have nothing. I am always happy to see you have written something. At nearly 71 years of age now I am not nearly as busy as I would like to be. I have days when my energy allows me and days that are simply low key and that is alright too. I do hope you are well and will always hold onto Hope for your beloved Catalonia.
Take good care.
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You are welcome, and you too take good care.
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