Walking Higgins Beach in early
October. Long after dawn, the sun
is just a cold blur. The summer air
is gone. Anyway, this Maine water
never really warms. But my thermos
holds coffee, and yours still insulates
your tea, green like your eyes, or like
the waves that roll toward us across
this sea. Anglers wade at the river
mouth, braving the chill as they seek
striped bass on the reel. I watch
for a while, but my mind wanders,
wondering how you feel — whether
the fatigue of caring for my father
is finally lifting. Later we might stop
for hot apple pie with cheddar,
like we did on a cool June morning
long ago farther south along this coast,
when you introduced me to this treat.
Matthew Dickerson
Matthew Dickerson lives and writes in Bristol, Vermont. His published books include historical fiction and narrative non-fiction nature and outdoor writing. His forthcoming book, “Birds of the Sky, Fish of the Sea” (2025) combines narrative non-fiction and poetry in collaboration with visual artist Matt Clark.