A photo is worth a thousand words.

Carmel beach and a poem by William Stafford

We would climb the highest dune,

from there to gaze and come down:

the ocean was performing;

we contributed our climb.

Waves leapfrogged and came

straight out of the storm.

What should our gaze mean?

Kit waited for me to decide.

Standing on such a hill,

what would you tell your child?

That was an absolute vista.

Those waves raced far, and cold.

'How far could you swim, Daddy,

in such a storm?'

'As far as was needed,' I said,

and as I talked, I swam.

- With Kit, age 7, at the beach

- William Stafford