Rise & Fall

The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls,

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The tide rises, the tide falls,
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;
Along the sea-sands damp and brown
The traveler hastens toward the town,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in darkness calls;
The little waves, with their soft, white hands
Efface the footprints in the sands,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveler to the shore.
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Glass negative of the Maine house


We leave today, in a matter of hours, to make our way home to another beloved house, two singing cats in tow. This photograph is the view from our deck, new as of 2007, and the flowing tide on the Machias River. This is the land of huge tide changes, influenced by the strong pull of the Bay of Fundy, some as high as 28 feet. Living here, one falls into sync with the water fluctuations. It's the work time line for the clammers and lobstermen, and sets the table for the shore birds. We will miss seeing and smelling the shimmering salty water.

Sadness shrouds this day on a larger scale and I send thoughts of peace and healing to the world on this September 11th.