When you think of the state of Maine,
which countryside do you see?
Which distinctly different fraternal twin-
coastal seascape, or inland wilderness?

Do you picture the dramatic surging power of the ocean?
salty tears caressing an angular face of rocky shoreline,
then trickling into the red and green seaweed of her hair.
The changing countenance of her coves
varying with her shifting tidal moods.
Images of lobster boats drifting between misty harbor islands,
Acadian crowds, street vendors, seascape artists and
tall summery houses with verandas reaching towards the ocean.
And a colorful blur of people playing on tawny sand.
While others hurry to and from a huge green L.L. Bean.

Or do you envision the calm quiescent lakes
nestled in corners of deep dark woods?
Land of the loon and lumberjack.
Within the cool shadows of her soft woodland visage,
light glints off the blue pools of her eyes.
Quiet peace permeates the far northern lakes.
Far from civilization, one sees only a few modest cabins
and hears the whispering dip of the paddle
and gentle lap of waves against canoe.
Have you seen the face of the forest:
her exuberant patchwork quilt of birch and evergreens?
Each irregular swatch delineated by river or brook.

From Katahdin's brow, all waterways flow through
a maze of wrinkled creases toward southern sibling,
eventually reaching her gaping mouth of coastal sea.
Watery threads stitch the quilt of forest,
binding her together with her angular coastal sister.
Joining at last the two faces of Maine.