Siesta Key Beach, Family Portrait
“I dwell in Possibility - A fairer House than Prose -”
— Emily Dickinson
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In poem 466, Emily Dickinson tells us that she prefers poetry to prose, i.e. she chooses to “dwell” in poetry. She skillfully chooses the word dwell instead of reside or live. She resides in 280 Main Street Amherst, but she dwells in the world of poetry.
In Sarasota we have a choice every night- either to watch the evening news or to head to the beach to watch the sunset. I generally choose the latter because the news is invariably toxic, and the sunset is almost invariably beautiful. I reside in Sarasota Florida, but I choose to dwell in the world of beauty and joy.
On the news is talk about the border, children separated from their families, children who are victims of mass shootings, violence of all types, and more. Here on the beach, people play, picnic, propose, marry, swim, photograph – in this case, a family portrait.
In the golden light of sunset on Siesta Key beach, is a photographer hard at work doing just that. Parents and children are carefully dressed for the occasion, but appear otherwise happy, relaxed, and playful. Everyone is laughing and having a good time, including the photographer. She clearly knows how to put her subjects at ease.
This is not your grandmother’s stiff, formal sitting. It is as close to a Norman Rockwell scene as one can imagine, a refreshing and wholesome alternative to the constant outpouring on social media and television. This is my dwelling place. Where is yours?
