Newburyport Doesn't Rhyme

 

 Where the cold Atlantic meets the mighty Merrimack,

I drove down to memory lane; went looking for a snack.

I can still remember when we'd all go into town...

Now it's filled with pretty shops; old buildings not knocked down.

They have built a lovely park and brick-lined, winding streets:

Galleries and gift shops, ice cream...  Winfrey's Fudge and sweets.

Went to Michael's Harborside for drinks out on the deck.

Had their famous lobster-roll and I ate every speck.

I spent all my summers on Plum Island as a child.

Saying things have changed a lot since then would be too mild.

Took my brother up to see how much the island's changed;

When I tried describing it he thought I was deranged

He could not believe his eyes - was nearly moved to tears.

Almost all the beach has disappeared in 20 years.

I can just imagine how much worse the guy would feel

If grandmother Lynch had been prepared to take the deal.

Photo/Boston.com

Plum Island

Summers on Plum Island; I was young - without a care.

Just went back to see the place; it almost wasn't there.

Back, when I was just a girl, we'd hit the beach at dawn...

That was 30 years ago and now that beach is gone.

I grew up on 53rd; our house was on the beach.

When we ran, we kids were out of breath before we'd reach

Sand that would be cool enough to soothe our burning feet;

Plunging into freezing water...  More akin to sleet.

Now our house is on a cliff; our neighbor's in the sea.

Storms have made my childhood beach a fading memory.

As Plum Island drifts away and more homes hit the drink

Residents want action, but it's harder than you'd think.

Places like Plum Island (they're called Barriers) are sand.

Back when people bought their homes they didn't understand

That they couldn't stop the sea from moving sand around,

And their lovely summer homes were built on shifting ground.

Only thing that holds the place together is the grass

So, like everything in life, the island, too, shall pass.

Ocean level's rising and, with storms a certainty,

There is not a lot that can be done to stop the sea.