The Sea

As the sea rushes to the shore,

I run-

as if escaping 

fate would be so easy-

it recedes and I crawl back,

awaiting its return

with my hands in the air,
fingers reaching towards the sky.

Rough waves

smooth into a gentle foam,

that tickles my feet and

draws me in

for a shocking embrace

a cold that wakes me up

to see the day more clearly. 

Colors dance in the sky

ones I’ll never match with a brush. 

Birds do their morning rounds,

singing their hellos. 

A crab peeks out of the sand to check

if I am still standing on his front lawn. 

What stories this ancient water holds-

secrets that could wash entire cities off the map;

and hope and peace that could put them back together-

only the lost know. 

As the sea rushes to the shore

I take a step forward and

let it

wash

over

me.