Poetry Lovers,
In 1972, I was walking the Newport Peninsular Beach at sunset with Corrie Huntley, when suddenly out of nowhere, she turned to me and said, “This is My Ocean, and don’t you forget it!”
I went home that evening, and in two hours I wrote the following poem, “My Ocean”.
The next evening I took Corrie for another sunset walk along the same beach . I had her sit on the
slopping sand just above the water’s edge facing the setting sun as I sat behind her right shoulder
and whispered the new poem to her as we both looked into the sunset
The magical part of this rendezvous was spectacular enough with the ocean on one side and the blue heaven above sprayed with wisps of gossamer clouds tinted in shades of heliotrope, and flaming orange.
But when I came to the line in the poem, “While the gulls light on the shore, and in awe look out with me to, look out to my mystique sea…” three white seagulls, glided over our heads and set down not fifty feet in front of us looking into the setting sun. And when I whispered the last line of the poem to into Corrie’s Ear, the seagulls gently took flight in tandem into the sunset swaying from side to side in unison until disappearing into the setting sun.

In 1975, I published my book called, “MY OCEAN” each paragraph illustrated with ink drawings of the scenes depicted in the poem. Although I sold out of the 2,800 hard covered first editions in 18 months, I have decided to reprint another 50 copies this summer in soft covers, so here is the first poem in the book of 65 illustrated poems for your pleasure.

MY OCEAN

THIS IS MY OCEAN, AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT;
IT’S MINE, IT’S REALLY ALL MINE;
YOU CAN TOUCH IT IF YOU WISH;
AND FEEL THE SALTY MIST IN THE AIR;
AND WATCH THE WIND SPILL THE WAVES;
IN THE SUN’S GLARE;
IF YOU WANT, I’LL SHARE IT;
JUST REMEMBER, IT’S MY OCEAN;
SO TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE WITH BRACES AND SHORT HAIR;
AND WAS CERTAIN, JUST CERTAIN;
THAT NO ONE COULD CARE;
I’D GO TO MY OCEAN, MY VERY OWN OCEAN;
AND LET ALL MY TEARS FALL INTO THE SEA;
SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW;
THAT’S HOW COME THE OCEAN;
IS AS SALTY AS CAN BE.

WHEN MY OCEAN IS STILL;
I STAND ON THE SHORE;
AND CAN SEE SO FAR;
AT NIGHT I CAN SEE THE MOON;
AND EVERY SINGLE STAR;
AND WHEN DAYTIME ROLLS AROUND;
MY OCEAN TURNS THE WHOLE WORLD
UPSIDE DOWN;
DON’T ASK ME WHY;
BUT I CAN LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN;
AND EVEN SEE THE SKY.

I’VE SEEN MY OCEAN BREATHING SOFTLY;
WITH HER SLOW SWELLS;
AND HOW SHE ROCKS THE BOUY;
THAT GENTLY RINGS THE DISTANT BELL;
I’VE SEEN HER WAVES AT FULL PLAY;
LIKE GIANT FISH GOING EVERY WHICH WAY;
AND WATCHED THE FOAMING SURF;
RACE BEFORE THE WAVES;
AND SPREAD UPON THE SHORE;
LIKE DELICATE WHITE LACE.

SOMETIMES AT SUNDOWN, WHEN THE SUN PAINTS;
THE WET SHORES A LIQUID GOLD;
AND THE RECEDING WATERS;
ROLLTHE GRAINS OF SAND;
BACK INTO THE ETERNAL SEA;
THE BEACH RIPPLES AND SHIMMERS;
AND WHISPERS IT’S SONGS TO ME;

IT SINGS OF SAILS THAT RUN WITH THE WINDS;
IT SINGS OF DREAMS, MY OWN, MY VERY OWN;
WHERE I AM KING AND WITH A QUEEN;
SHARE MY OCEAN THRONE.

THIS IS MY OCEAN AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT;
IT’S MINE, EVERYTHING, ALL I CAN SEE;
THE SLOW SWELLS ROLLING;
AND TURNING INTO PURE WHITE BEADS;
GLISTEINING IN THE SETTING SUN;
WHILE THE GULLS LIGHT ON THE SHORE;
AND IN AWE, LOOK OUT WITH ME;
LOOK OUT TO MY MYSTIC SEA.

YES, THIS IS MY OCEAN;
THAT’S THE WAY IT’S GOTTA BE;
I OWN IT, I REALLY DO OWN IT;
BUT I’VE GOT A SECRET I’D LIKE TO TELL;
YOU KNOW ALL THOSE WAVES AND SAILS;
THOSE STANDING GULLS AND THAT BOUY BELL?
WELL I’D LIKE TO SHARE IT;
I REALLY WANT TO SHARE IT;
I WANT TO SHARE IT SO BAD;
I CAN HARDLY BEAR IT.

SO COME ON DOWN TO MY OCEAN;
IF YOU’VE A MIND TO;
LOOK AT IT…
LISTEN TO IT…
IF YOU’RE NICE, I’LL LET YOU PET IT;
BUT IT’S STILL MY OCEAN;
AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT;
DON’T YOU FORGET IT.

(AND THE GULLS FLEW INTO THE SUNSET)

Uncle Joe