Soft Landings in Poetry

By Mel Senator

This collection of poetry is like a handful of blue and green sea glass, pearl gossamer shells, and freshly washed wet stones on soft sand, yet born of a powerful and ancient ocean. In this book we are transported to the very edge of the seashore, among birds that argue, waves that grow tired, and reeds that sing. And then, suddenly, we visit an older man, wondering, perhaps about death, but with a calm, almost bemused air of acceptance and peace. These poems observe and make sense of the universe of ordinary life and love, and show how they are anything but ordinary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 21, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440164255

Mel Senator

Mel Senator is the author of Catskill Summers (2000), Reflections in Haiku (2006), Soft Landings in Poetry (2009) and Soft Landings in Poetry 2 (2011). He is an adjunct professor of American history and teacher education. Mr. Senator and his wife, Shelly, enjoy hiking and biking the shores and marshes along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They spend summers at their home on Cape Cod near the National Seashore.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Introduction

blackness at 4 p m

a winter afternoon at starbucks

white world wonders on st valentine’s day

march hope

dark thoughts in 3 poems

they’re back

morning tides

sea drops

a m crows

bird action by the beach

racing the rain at cape cod

observations on a path by the beach

high tide at boat meadow beach

the brown lady with the crisp features

beach light

the disturbance

the fireplace

at white crescent beach

laundry on new year’s day

five gulls

plane time

pacific low tide

the bicycle as healer

how it was

on again off again

biking the gallician hillside in france

cape cod time

beach harmony at cape cod bay

the french guests’ breakfast at the american inn

marsh perch

a poem to bubble dystichiasis*

born again

from the plank bridge by the marsh

on being good

changing personas

cloud wars on a summer day

the condor express

time reduced

the endless sea music

things happen

sunrise at hendry’s beach

running the wind

winds

the fruit pickers in france

confronting the devil

at coast guard beach meadow

of green heads

running the day in brooklyn

glimpses

5 minutes of monitoring sound by a motel pool on a lazy afternoon

marsh perch revisited

the geese by the pond

late afternoon events

ocean mist with a twist

showing up at grandma’s for coffee*

changes

more from the plank bridge by the marsh

i am a wall

the girl on the bus

on stearns wharf

out of step

horizons

Also by Mel Senator

Catskill Summers

Reflections in Haiku

Acknowledgements

To Susan Senator, thank you for reading the manuscript, for the depth of criticism and for your kind, thoughtful encouragement. I appreciate your special interest in this book and the many discussions we had about its content. Thank you for writing the inspiring back cover description.

To Ned Batchelder for formatting this book and providing excellent guidance in preparation of the manuscript for publication. Thank you for your patience and careful explanations throughout the publication process.

To Laura Senator, thank you for reading the manuscript, for all the encouragement, questions and helpful suggestions. Your reactions to the poems was much appreciated.

To the many friends who read occasional poems and whose comments encouraged me to write this book.

So much thanks goes to Shelly who walked the beaches, hiked the trails and biked the miles with me. Who listened carefully, judged carefully and offered suggestions from