By Ruth Ticktin
The day started in tranquility. Returning from the trail back onto the walking path, a vaguely familiar woman stopped and whispered.
“Quite outstanding, isn’t it? Lovely sunrise.”
Trish managed a nod in response as they passed on the biking/walking path. She couldn’t explain that today’s sunrise was more of the cloudy kind with streaks of white puffy streamers going all the way from the sea to the clouds. Some folks might see a biblical scene in the sky, though the clouds weren’t special to Trish. The poofs covering the dramatic rise-up of the sun did create a nostalgia. Trish longed for clear winter days alone to view the sea sky sun. Staring, she would devour the early morning miracle without natural or human distraction.
Pausing, she looked out to the water’s edge, no low tides or seabed visible. Searching cloud lines in the sky, there was a parting of the poofy body shapes like in the Red Sea story. An artist seeing a similar view must’ve thought “Ah-ha that’s how the crossing took place.” Trish knew that painting and this scene. Waters flowing on the sea, winds blowing in the sky and clouds refusing to part for the sun. Will low tides ever dry up mid-sea again, allowing a successful crossing like in the Bible story? She wondered about the confluence and timing of elements. Imagine refugees planning a safe crossing of the Big River to coincide with a full moon in the sky and a low tide on the water.
From behind, wheels bouncing on concrete came louder and closer. Erasing her visions of the sky parting, Trish turned to a boy skateboarding on the other side of the path. Putting aside the noise, she exhaled, heartened by the skateboarder’s purpose. He was out early, exercising and soaking in the sea sky sun close to home.
In the weeks before her fall, Trish used to walk peacefully every morning, aware and in awe of the striking triad below, around, above and beyond.
Heartened by her road to recovery and the perfect timing, Trish grinned and told the boy who was not listening.
“My daughter is coming home for a visit soon. At least for a few days, I’ll have someone to cook for and talk to. I’ll be Mom again.”
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Writing and teaching, Ruth Ticktin encourages sharing stories. She’s author: Around & Around Poetry Chapbook (BottlecapPress 2024;) Was Am Going, Recollections—Poetry & Flash (NewBayBooks 2022;) co-editor: Psalms (PoeticaPublishing 2020;) co-author: What’s Ahead? (Pro Lingua Learning 2013;) contributor: MD Bards, Gathering 2023, 2024 (LocalGemPress;) Straylight 10/23; PressPausePress 6. More— https://rticktindc.wixsite.com/ruth