I really enjoy teaching about poetry; unfortunately, I am not a very good poet myself even though I aspire to be. In the meantime, I will just continue to enjoy the talent of others. This one by Thomas Moore is one of my favorites.
I Saw From the Beach
by Thomas Moore
Princeville Hotel, Kauai 2006
A Christmas gift from PD and PSIL (Yes, I am very lucky!)
I saw from the beach, when the morning was shining,
A bark o’er the waters move gloriously on;
I came when the sun o’er that beach was declining,
The bark was still there, but the waters were gone.
And such is the fate of our life’s early promise,
So passing the spring-tide of joy we have known;
Each wave that we danced on at morning ebbs from us,
And leaves us, at eve, on the bleak shore alone. 
Oh, who would not welcome that moment’s returning
When passion first waked a new life through his frame,
And his soul, like the wood that grows precious in burning,
Gave out all its sweets to love’s exquisite flame.
I got this recipe on one of our beach trips years ago. Like I do too many times, I failed to write the source down. It’s good! I hope you will give it a try.
Pineapple-Key Lime Cake*
3 cups whole wheat flour ( or all-purpose flour or 2 cups whole wheat and 1 cup all-purpose)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs beaten
1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup chopped pecans
grated zest of 3 limes (use Key Limes if you can find them)
1/4 cup lime juice (the REAL kind, please)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter and sugar the sides of a Bundt pan. Set aside. Sift together flour, salt, soda, allspice and sugar. Mix oil and eggs and add to flour mixture. Stir in pineapple, pecans, zest and juice. Mix well. Pour into Bundt pan. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil and cool in pan before removing.
*Note: this makes a dense, moist cake. For a lighter cake, substitute all-purpose flour or a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose.
