I can’t resist a good sunset photo. I don’t think I’m alone in this. A brightly colored sunset reminds us that things will be alright. I saw this wonderful photo on Mary Howard’s Facebook. She often posts sunsets from her new home in Hawaii, but this one is from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She happily granted permission for me to use it.
“I was in Myrtle Beach SC for a SERRRA presentation. Each night I’d walked the beach to get sunset photos. On this day I noticed that I could actually walk under this and it made for a perfect photo. I’m learning to pay attention to my gut!” Mary Howard
Please post a small poem in the comments and support other writers with encouraging responses. I will be posting my own poem later today.
Sun reluctantly sets
Margaret Simon, draft
in golden glow
sending us a message
of hope.
Reflections on the Teche 
streaks of red and gold
over a winter-white beach
fire and ice
Love the imagery of red and gold and winter-white.
I like the succinctness of your poem and echoing of “red and gold” in “fire and ice,” thanks Rose!
I agree with the contrasts you draw so succinctly—red and gold, fire and ice, winter white! Beautiful.
Yes, to Haiku for getting at the essence, a lovely descriptive poem of this photo but so much richer on its own. Very nice, Rose.
Great descriptive images, Rose
Clouds of the earth
and under the pier.
Orange mixed yellow sky,
will shine its brightest
to the clouds of the earth
Author-Avalyn
Date published-Jan 18 2023 Wednesday
Name- clouds of the earth
Lovely!
I love “clouds of the earth”….Wow!
Ah, Avalyn, you have captured the beauty of the photo with your focus on the clouds, the pier and the bright colorful sky. I love rich orange and yellow skies and sunsets that shine. You are a poet!!!
Clouds of the earth-lovely, Avalyn!
Thanks for your poem, “message/ of hope” and inspiring pic Margaret!
Here’s my poem
SATURATED SUNSET
magic mango sky
mark-made Mother Nature
analogous hues
shadow-electrify her
tropic beachside temple
Michelle Kogan, draft
Love “magic mango sky”
I also love mango sky and that the pier becomes a temple metaphor.
Ooh! “Magic mango sky”—wonderful, Michelle!
I, too, am a fan of that “magic mango sky”, a great line. Save that one, Michelle!! Oh to be near that beachside temple right now!!! I could use some sunshine and warm air.
Kudos to all above. I like “reluctant” and “fire and ice” and I probably stole mango from Michelle, the sincerest form of flattery… and I decided to make it a sunrise, probably b/c I didn’t read carefully enough when I started writing… nonetheless, here is mine:
Picture it:
Gray city
Gray mist
Gray beach
Gray clouds
Bold black steel
Frames the scene
A man in black walks
Into the dawning day
Toward a brilliant sunrise
Washing the low sky
Egg yolk yellow
Mango orange
Hibiscus red
A new day
Rises up
– Karen Eastlund
I love the feel and look of your poem, Karen. All the color names are like reading a rainbow.
There is a turn in your poem where all the gray becomes a brilliant sunrise welcoming a new day. Lovely.
Nice contrast in mood with your change in color palette Karen!
Karen, I love this mini-film you’ve narrated as I watch the visuals in my mind. The transition of gray to black to “dawning day” colors is beautiful…I also love the shape of the poem!
Karen, I looked at yours and tried to read it as a Marilyn Singer reverso and in a way it does work! I love your egg yolk yellow, Mango orange, hibiscus red colors of a brilliant sunrise. Very nice and the birth of day from gray to brilliant….
MY TURN
Make way for me
grey bridge and beach:
I am sunrise
a hot blaze
to your cool morning
but do not worry—
I will be brief here,
then leave the blue
behind.
Draft, Carol Coven Grannick
Ah, that beautiful blue. I love the glorious colors of the waters in the Virgin Islands and around Bermuda. And the ocean at its most beautiful to me. Oh to walk by the beach right now. Those of us in the snow belt love a chance to enjoy the sunshine and colors in the winter and your poem, Carol, reminded me of that yearning!
Seaside Cathedral
The setting sun rings its bells
soft and low, their echoes kiss the shore.
The faithful stroll along the sand,
head to the stained glass sky.
They offer prayers in salty air,
watch waves lapping the shore, and
bow their heads in silent joy, as Psalms
wrap their hearts in the hopeful balm of love.
~Janet Fagal, draft 2023
Seaside Cathedral
The setting sun rings its bells,
soft and low
their echoes
kiss the shore.
The faithful stroll
along the sand,
head toward the stained glass sky.
They offer prayers
in salty air,
watch waves
lap to and fro,
and bow their heads
in silence, where
sweet Psalms ensnare
their hearts
in hopeful balms of love.
~Janet Fagal, draft 2023
(a newer draft when I realized the word repetition of shore)
What beautiful images you created, Janet.
“Echoes/kiss the shore…” and “stained glass sky”! So gentle and lovely and gorgeous!
Margaret, such a lovely #poemofhope.