The dunes lean quiet, salted thin,
As twilight tides and winds begin.
Above, the sky in fury spills
Its fire across the ocean’s hills.

A mariner’s ghost walks Nauset sand,
With chartless stars cupped in his hand.
The breeze recalls his parting song—
That sky and sea have danced too long.

The sunset bleeds in gold and flame,
A final flare that won’t remain.
Yet in that blaze, the world is stilled—
A hush the dying light has filled.

So watch the stormcloud’s bold descent,
In hues that time cannot prevent.
For Cape Cod keeps what skies impart:
A weathered map of the human heart.

Susan Hoeltken

Every summer, I’m drawn to the light of Cape Cod’s skies. Spending time on the National Seashore beaches, my family and I witness sunsets that are uniquely beautiful.

This collection is inspired by those moments—the fading light that paints the sky in pinks, lavenders, oranges, violets, and blues. Through my paintings, I aim to capture the fleeting glow and magic of Cape Cod’s skies.