Summary

Erika Burkhalter poetically recounts a transcendent experience at sunset on Lanai's shore, reflecting on the beauty of the ocean and the cycle of life, dedicated to her friend Jeff's journey onward.

Abstract

In "Dipped in the Sky," Erika Burkhalter shares a profound personal moment through poetry and photography, where she stands at the intersection of sea and sky, capturing the essence of a Hawaiian sunset. Her words paint a vivid picture of the changing hues and the rhythmic dance of the waves, evoking a sense of eternity and transformation. The piece is a tribute to her friend Jeff, an avid surfer, who is transitioning to the next phase of existence, with the poem serving as a metaphor for his passage. Burkhalter's reflections on the ephemeral beauty of nature and the enduring bond with her friend culminate in a poignant farewell, celebrating the journey of life and the peace found in acceptance.

Opinions

The author conveys a deep connection with nature, particularly the ocean, which serves as a backdrop for introspection and the celebration of life's transitions.
There is a reverence for the cyclical patterns of the ocean waves, which the author likens to the stages of life and death.
The poem is imbued with a sense of spirituality, as the author describes feeling caught between heaven and earth, suggesting a belief in a greater continuity beyond the physical world.
The dedication to her friend Jeff reveals a personal and emotional investment in the piece, highlighting the author's capacity for empathy and her philosophical outlook on the nature of existence.
Burkhalter's use of sensory language and imagery indicates a strong appreciation for beauty and the power of the natural world to inspire and heal.

Dipped in the Sky

My last night on Lanai

Knee deep in the ocean, dipped in the sky, I found myself floating on my last night on Lanai.

Inhaling lilac and exhaling rose, I breathed in the sunset, and sunk in my toes

to the sloping sea floor, which tilted and spilled to the vastness of infinity. And then it refilled

in a tube of clear emerald, or maybe delft blue. Just as the sky shifted, so did the hues

of light upon water, the sheen upon glass, shimmering gold, until the wave crashed,

and then shifted to sherbet, lit from within, the glow so intense, I felt like my skin

must be painted as well. Another swell rushed in, followed by a second and the crash of the third, then silence, as the tug of the waters turned.

For they travel in sets of three or of seven, arriving on shore from the breath of heaven.

They gather their strength and culminate with power, and when they depart, the next wave cowers

against the force of the retreating ones. I stagger a bit and melt into the sun.

The show lingers a bit, and then begins to dim. And soon, the stars fill in

the gaps between sea and sky. I can almost feel myself flying

on violet breezes and tender teases of lapping waves. Grains of sand ease

from under my feet, escaping to the vastness of the sea, and to everlasting eternity.

Everlasting Eternity. Photo ©Erika Burkhalter.

I wrote this poem in an attempt to capture a moment when I felt caught somewhere between heaven and earth, standing in the embers of a glowing sunset. But, while I was writing, my mind was very much on a dear friend of mine, Jeff, who is transitioning right now to the next plane of existence. Always a surfer, and a lover of the sea, I like to think about him being absorbed into the vastness of a sunset like this as he makes his journey. Bon voyage, Jeff. As you said, “It’s been a good ride.”

Perfection

From a Poet’s Heart

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The Call

It beckons in the blue of a morning’s hue,softened by dew, and moody clouds, and a prayer to nature…

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Dancing in the Air

What is it like to dance in the air?

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Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).