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To the Coast

/ October 2025

No longer narrow lanes
twisting through green hills of trees
frilly ripple of stream,
           but a sharp exhalation
           loud exclamation
           of sky and water and brazen sun;

nor inland cooing of doves
soft sounds of silence,
           the roar of wild surf
           raucous seabirds contending
           for beach turf;

not sharp bite of apple
subtle nibble of plum,
           whirl of salt in the air
           expands eardrums
           reams the nostrils
           forces eyes to take it all in.

  • Ray Greenblatt is an editor for the Schuylkill Valley Journal and teaches a “Joy of Poetry” course at Temple University-OLLI. His most recent book of poetry is From an Old Hotel on the Irish Coast (Parnilis Media, 2023).