Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine

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Family of three

You, our baby, and me.

She’s not so small

Not after all.

She takes the lead

Going up first.

A graceful Kelly

An onlooker calls.

No more artificial walls!

Long strong fingers

Stretched out wide.

Smacking below

An unforgiving tide.

Tourists blot the opposing coast

As if a beach that could be combed.

The gull rides the thermal grove

And our little one ascends.

To be lowered

And begin again.

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—Howard Hain

August, 16, 2019