The Majesty of the Marsh
The Majesty of the Marsh There is renewal found in the ebb and flow of the marshlands. The sensory experiences remind me of my childhood. They bring back sweet memories of clams dug from black Pamlico mud, shrimping and setting nets with my Pop, the slap of the boat paddle on the water, and mosquitoes as big as dragonflies. The beauty and importance of the marsh is often underestimated. Today, I stood and looked over the marsh and toward the sea and I felt the strong arms of life and promise embrace me like an old friend. The briny mud of the marsh holds so much meaning for so many. The brackish estuaries provide nourishment, hope, and cleansing for many Eastern North Carolina families. My roots are here and they run deep, from Ocracoke to Goose Creek Island. I smelled the pungent salt air and closed my eyes. I drifted back to my childhood; to a flat bottom boat skimming across the waters ...