Photo Credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Indian Ocean, taken from the shore of Mombasa, Kenya, E.A., 1975.
dedicated to my friend,
Bette
~ a young girl on the Eastern seaboard
carried by the ocean waves
a seashell washed upon the shore
and gratefully found itself
resting in the sun soaked floor…
a young girl was walking near
her tiny toes spinning wisps of powdered sand
she came upon the seashell,
knelt down and gently cupped it in her hand…
and together they sat
beside the ocean dream
opening their thoughts to the world’s room
vibrant waves of blues and greens
~a dedicated teacher of the young
the day arrived when life’s distance
carried her away from the shore and sea
but the wisdom of the seashell
accompanied her like a comforting breeze
the children sat at her feet
listening with respect
knowingly she taught them
with presence and with no regrets
sensing the promise in their eyes
helped them to see the strength held inside
supportive and caring
urging them on
lovely as the bluebird
singing its song
her colleagues were affirmed …
encouraged as well
lifting others to their call
as the waves lift the seashell to the swell
~ a friend
the seashell is a friend to the tiny creature
it holds inside
and so by this truth,
the little girl did abide
self-respect and honor
honesty and truth
virtues held and shared
to the young and long-in-tooth
listening to the secret quiet of the waves
forward the seashell travels
and so did this woman too
through all the bright moments and turbulent battles
she goes forward with courage
and tells YOU, you will win!
never a complaint or self-pity you hear
regardless of how life may spin
~A lover of nature
Mother Earth is her friend
and the squirrels and birds she does feed
she tends to the wondrous gardens
of friends and of seed
a long way from the ocean is she
but this truth tale of a seashell and girl
invites us to the balance gracing us
promising a pearl
Footprints of Thoughts 
Beautiful. I’d like to have known her. Jan
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Still a possibility! She lives! LOL Did not mean to imply she wasnt’! LOL
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A beautiful tribute, Jane. 🙂
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wonderful tribute Johannis!
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thank you, Mary!
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Your comment means a lot! Thank you for taking the time to view it and comment! Happy Easter, Mary!
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This journey of your friendship resonated with me, Johann. I used to be a good friend to a girl named Joanna Barnes from Rockport, Mass. While I was 16, she was 17 and we worked at my Great Uncle’s pharmacy on Bear Skin Neck. Once we became friends, we traveled around on our ‘off’ hours, while my parents were states away in Ohio. It was a splendid summer and I learned so much about life. Joanna had a disability in one of her legs being born with a crooked leg. She was spunky and probably went from Kalamazoo College into being a lawyer or advocate for disabilities. Someday, she and I may reconnect.
Meanwhile, your friend, Bette sounds wonderful and you have given her a wonderful tribute to her life, so glad she is still around to enjoy the praise and you both can continue forging new paths in your long time friendship, too.
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Your friend, Joanna, sounded like a wonderful companion and someone you needed just at that time in your life! It would be wonderful for you both if you reconnected! Happy journey! and thank you for the good wishes!
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Friendship is the most powerful conduit for transformation. Profound and moving words…
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thank you, Rebecca…yes…friendships build LIFE …it seems in my life, at different moments, different people have come along at just the right time to grace my life…I have been blessed…and I need to remember the blessings! Your friendship is most certainly a blessing to me, Rebecca! Thank you!
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I do love the ocean and its support of life for our planet.
Thank you, Jane for this wonderful tribute.
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You are most welcome, my dear friend! I worked on it for two weeks!
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