Beaches

Beaches In The Sun

Playas become beaches by virtue of a fence
traipse up the coast north to whence
state of mind doesn't quite cross into Oregon
Sands march town by town
Each with a character all its own.

Lighthouse at Cabrillo standing
beach head for the Navy landing
with tourist dollars spent by midwest boys
on native girls or on a so so day
their mothers spin into the bay
to check out Seaworld and their sons.



Del Mar races to the Sea, a thoroughbred created
surf and turf now spread nationwide
Lobster purists may complain,
But what the heck this isn't Maine.



Newport's towers rise in the sun
home to corporations and the American Way
while Lido Isle imitates packed Mediterranean
Together they cuddle Balboa Bay



Seal and Long - working beaches
tankers, liners and fishing craft
bulky armed tattoos climbing derricks
or hauling lines fore and aft
to wave goodby to love boats










Venice Home to those of odd
or muscular bent
People on wheels cavort the bike paths
into overfilmed Palisades
where Santa Monica sand
sprouts bodies bathed in Oil



Insist wrong if you must but for what it's worth
Stuffy Santa Barbara thinks it starts the north
University and artists lighten it some
as 101 officially becomes Highway One.



Park joins forest until you reach Big Sur
Where llama have been known to graze
As do golfers at Pebble Beach north of there
to where tourists see the best of Monterey



San Francisco rises on its hills
A precious jewel now become
shopworn gaud unsure of future
glorying in past of pirates and pioneers
who celebrated money and arts.





Drakes Bay and Fort Ross proclaim
versions of who came when
English pirate or friendly Russian invasion
Take you to Point Arena
Last of the Lights that frighten away the dark
But can't keep Eureka or Crescent City's arc
from flooding away each year.



Here are the beaches you'll find and more
as you climb from the floor
of California where we boast
a thousand miles of coast
and think it's normal, just like the people.

HERE COMES THE SUN