taken on my last week of vacation in new zealand - sarah and i got up early, walked through the forest to the beach then back home through more native bush. during the trek i turned to her and said "i gave all of this away (for new york)?" she said "yes - but it will always be here..."

envoi:
"... nearly a life time lateron another beach

- the sea
a blinking shield at our feet,behind us a dark hill fortresswith sentinel sea birdscircling and calling -

i lay down beside you in tussockand felt without warningi had come home."

j.c. sturm - nz poet (1927 - )