The Cliffs of Palace Verdes

This is California at its finest,
Sitting here at the edge
Of the Palace Verdes cliffs,
Soaking up the sun
And the scenery before me.
I watch the waves
Wash over the rocks
Far down below
Leaving their foamy trail behind
While the surfers
Ply their trade
On the very same waves
Off in the distance.
I can see the kelp beds
Hugging the water surface
Adjacent to the shore,
And numerous pelicans, seals
And weekend fishermen
Hunting for the fish
Hiding beneath the surface.
I watch as the pelicans
Dive bomb their prey
While seagulls squabble
Amongst themselves.
There are sailboats
Crisscrossing the bay
And I gaze in wonder
As a large yacht,
Perhaps 200 foot long,
Cruises by.
The view is spectacular
From this vantage point,
And while I write
Describing what I see,
Others meander by
Absorbed in the view.
It is a day
For family outings
And dogs taking
Their masters
For a walk.
A young couple
Settles down
With blankets
And picnic basket
Not far away.
A local artist patiently
Paints the scene
Thankful that
The sun is warm
And that the wind
Doesn’t try
To steal her work.
Yes, this is definitely
California living
At its best
On a gorgeous day
In February
While much of the rest
Of the country
Lies bound in snow.