KAUA’I
Where coconut palm branches sway
to a hula dance in the breeze
and boisterous exotic birds
with their chorus choir fly,
and seagulls swoop in
as the fowl stroll lazily by.
Where turquoise water rolls in
and flows rhythmically to shore,
and marine mammals lie
near incoming lapping tides.
And surfers catch the swells, riding waves to shore
and swimmers snorkeling, barely seen
in search of what lies beneath.
Across dense fields sugarcane plants grow wild
tall and green with thick leaves blowing in the wind
and the ground full with pineapple,
papaya, nuts, taro, and other fruit.
Acres and acres of coffee beans grown,
roasted and harvested in robust blends and ground.
We drive up roads and climb
through canyon valleys and see
such picturesque sublime beauty, it’s hard to imagine
how volcanic mountains and lava caves
are now covered in foliage so lush and green.
We look out on a never-ending sea
and all I want is to gaze at the sight,
not think what waits beyond this day,
put aside thoughts about the ‘latest news,’
what goes on in the rest of the world,
and dwell instead on what I came to see
across the Pacific on the island of Kauai.
_______________
Joyce E. Johnson © 2017
Footnotes: This is the first of several pictures and posts of my recent trip to Kauai Island, Hawaii. The above picture I took of the upper east side when we pulled off the road and stopped to take pictures.
