Here and gone, so fast.
· by Roy Edlund
Walking on to the beach before the sun comes up your visibility is limited. You hear the waves before you can see them. Everything is more of an impression.
Shorebirds scurry at the waters edge, indifferent to my advance, busily searching for sandfleas or whatever it is they are pressing their beaks into the sand for.
The laughing gulls cracking themselves up, take a moment to swoop in to see if I have some breakfast I might want to share, before moving on seeking treasure or some better conversation.
The ghost crab cleaning up the entrance to its burrow, posting up, hoping I have the nerve to get into a scuffle with it.
The sky over the ocean is dark with just a hint of color to the clouds, purples and gold, but mostly dark grey.
As the sun starts its climb from the ocean deep, little by little, the beachscape comes into view.
As I scan the horizon, I can't really make out what I am seeing. There is a speck that seems to be moving towards me.
I can start to make out the different birds on the shore, the smattering of people quietly walking, with reverence to what is coming.
More light. More color.
The moving speck is coming into focus.
Pelicans gliding silently over the ocean surface. Smooth, uncomplicated.
Here and gone, so fast.
Love from here. ❤️
Prints of the photos in this post are available in the Beach Bum Gallery on paper, canvas and metal.