The Daily Creative Writer’s been on vacation this week, soaking up some good old-fashioned small town patriotism. I’ve been smiling with old friends, hugging family and even kissing dogs and petting babies (or something like that!).

I’ve talked before about taking time-outs to fill up the creative well, and federally recognized holidays are always a great time to cash in some vacation days and take much needed time off.

I’ll be back next week with new musings and writerly insight.

In the meantime, here’s a little poem composed on a sandy beach in the long shadows of a rickety pier.

Happy 4th everyone!

Echoes and Sunsets
Ghosts of me
Skip past in the surf
Specters of promise
Echoes of once upon a time

A double exposure
Long shadows on the sand
The this-is-me
And the once-I-was.

A two-way mirror
Waves roll in and out
I remember
All that’s been forgotten

Sunset on a childhood beach.