On a chilly morning in April, there is a subdued beauty to the marsh. Filled with subtlety and variation, it’s a sensory feast. The sky transitions from peach to brilliant gold, lighting the mist that lies low over the grassy hummocks and tide-carved channels. The promise of color lies hidden in silhouettes. The rising sun rays brush the low-lying mist, setting it aglow. They light the feathery edges of fern grass with an amber glow and caress the bellies of flying mallards against brilliant blue skies. Gulls call and crows caw. The air is chilly and permeated with the deep rich scent of damp earth and the organic tang of swampy water. Song sparrows rustle and flit from shrub to shrub, intermittently singing their sweet notes. A great blue heron picks its way through the shallows. It’s a glorious place to greet the new day.
Some people say there’s no magic in the world. Clearly, they have never have walked in the marsh at sunrise.
Nix the comfort zone 
I think I might love the literary description more than the photos! This is beautiful writing. I hope the poem comes back.
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Thanks. I was so frustrated when the whole thing disappeared and somehow the poem stubbornly resisted rebirth.
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Beautiful! I love the words and the pictures… Really makes me want to walk the marsh!
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I’ve just fallen in love with the wonders of the marsh.
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The promise of color, the promise of peace, the promise of a poem. Thanks.
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Sunrise is my favorite time. This is stunning.
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Sunrise makes my heart sing. It really is a time when I feel so in tune with all that is good in the world and the promise and potential of each moment. Magic!
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Absolutely love your description of the marsh and the photos add the finishing touch!
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Thank you! The marsh is a gorgeous place and every moment I spend there reveals more of its wonders.
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Thanks for painting this morning masterpiece. And it’s just down the road! Now just some morning 60s!
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How far are you from Scarborough, Dan? Maybe we could meet up there for a walk some day — before mosquito season!
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40 minutes to Scarborough. Let’s see if we can make it happen.
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I love your ending! The whole description of the marsh is so vivid. It was fun to see the photos that match the words so perfectly, too.
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