A Summer Day at the Beach

It was hot as I lay on my blanket. The sizzling heat spreads up and down my body forming droplets of sweat.

It feels scorching hot. The way a sweltering summer day feels.

The bright sun sparkles on the blue water teasing a swim to cool off.

Afterwards, I sit and watch a few sailboats skim across the water in the distance. A flock of sandpipers settles by the waters’ edge searching for nibbles their white bodies intermingling with the blue color. Defying gravity, a few fly overhead in hope of some dropped crumbs from beach snacks. It’s a dance to their own symphony.

My eyes sweep around the sandy beach expanse. Stopping, I observe a young man painting at the peak of a sand dune mound. The green fronds from tall palm trees are his canopy. With palette in hand he is capturing the bright summer sun, the azure sky and water. His hand moves swiftly as if in fear of losing the moment he wants to preserve on canvas. I’m in the center of these dazzling visions. It’s a wondrous feast for my eyes.

Time passes.

A dark gray shadow begins to sweep over the water as the sky changes from sunny yellows and blues to pinks, reds and oranges. It majestic to witness the elusive changes the sky is making.

Nightfall is beginning.

I watch as the young man lay his first painting against one of the palm trees. I can see a figure on a blanket placed at the bottom of the canvas. I don’t dare stare too long.

Could he have added me to his painting?

Perhaps.

It has happened to me before. Once an artist captured me in a pencil drawing and gave it to me. “A just because gift”, he had said.

The young man picks up another canvas. He’s getting ready for a new masterpiece: the night sky.

The speckles of light from the sun setting on the horizon testifies to the return of days end. One by one stars begin to sprinkle the sky creating a twilight pattern.
I can see the young man, rapidly, sweeping his brush across the canvas in a frenzy to capture all the changes that are happening.

Night has fallen.

It’s time to leave.

Turning, I see the young man is gone.

I hope he was able to celebrate the miracle of this night sky in his painting.
2014©written by Isadora

Billie Holiday – Summertime

It was very peaceful
I felt free
Staring up at the sky
2014©written by Isadora