Quoddy Head

On Maine's coast, rock, pine and ocean
contend in an ancient game.
Ocean storms barricades of rock
with ceaseless beating waves.
Rock yields small, pebbled beaches,
but pelts them with boulders.
Pines' tenacious roots pry at rock,
crumbling it slowly into soil.
Rock resists pines' foothold. Pines die,
their rent trunks scoured white with salt spray.
Pines beat rock. Ocean beats pines.
Rock beats pines. Ocean beats rock.

Laurie Joan Aron

If you've any comments on this poem, Laurie Joan Aron would be pleased to hear from you.