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#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

It takes only a few morning hours to fly away from the New England woods and land on a beach in northeast Florida where I take my daily walk. I will teach a workshop in two days, it's why I'm here. We will write poems and prose from personal photos.

Today is not sunny or warm. Low clouds, high surf. I am happy. I want to walk in sand by the sea in any weather, I want to walk forever. The shell strewn beach stretches for miles. Red flags fly to warn swimmers to keep out of the water. My bare feet slosh in the foamy spew washed in by the waves.

Waves are tossing shells onto the sand in freakish pairings. I find a mushroom shell, a mythical creation, part scallop shell, part tree fungus! The beach wants me in a playful, childlike spirt.

I walk and walk until I spot the bright red lifeguard stand. It's vacant, of course. There's no swimming in this wild surf. But it's comforting, knowing it's there. Some muscular tanned young person climbs its rungs, holding binoculars. It's a bold and awesome chair – with a singular purpose. There's nothing to do in this tall, heroically poised, chair but watch, and wait. Be ready to risk your life to help a stranger caught by the sea.

All photos and text copyright Kelly DuMar 2017