To the Sea

By The Sea Emily Dickinson

I started early, took my dog, And visited the sea; The mermaids in the basement Came out to look at me. And frigates in the upper floor Extended hempen hands, Presuming me to be a mouse Aground, upon the sands. But no man moved me till the tide Went past my simple shoe, And past my apron and my belt, And past my bodice too, And made as he would eat me up As wholly as a dew Upon a dandelion's sleeve - And then I started too. And he - he followed close behind; I felt his silver heel Upon my ankle, - then my shoes Would overflow with pearl. Until we met the solid town, No man he seemed to know; And bowing with a mighty look At me, the sea withdrew. Our Alaska summer is coming to a close.  Termination dust has already been reported in the mountains and work will start in two days.  I am so thankful to have this time off in the summers, but each year it gets a little more difficult to return to work.   Heading down South once again for work and am looking forward to the little one having the time of his life in the firgid surf.