There is something about taking the time to walk along the tide line after a storm, observing the changes in the beach as the tide recedes. April has had some dramatic weather and with that came an unusual amount of sea wrack discarded along the shoreline. On one particular grey day, the beach was scattered with a swathe of worn-down shells and detritus, leaving an almost perfectly white carpet under foot.

Upon this same day, amongst the driftwood and the seaweed, I happened upon an interesting piece of wrack which with it, brought the inspiration for some photography and poetry. One perfectly preserved red rose, entangled in seaweed. The rose had recently been released by the tide, so was still drowned in its’ salty wash, laying almost like it was placed there as some macabre talisman for whomever found it. Where did it come from? Who was it for? How did it get there? The ocean had taken great care of this sea wrack, to deliver its’ charge to the shoreline in one piece, encased in it’s protective shroud of kelp, accompanied by its’ very own guardian in the form of a hagstone.

I left natures treasure exactly where I found it, perhaps to return to the sea or to be found by another, but it got me thinking about sea wrack and the symbolic nature of that particular masterpiece. It is hard to believe that it arrived so perfectly presented at that place having been through such rough conditions, weathered by wind and waves. It is even harder not to see the poetic symbolism it offers to those of us who have weathered tough times. To emerge from the chaos changed, but still embodying beauty and worth in our new form, not in spite of, but because of our journey to get there.