The Beach

the blue was blazing

on the waves as they

crashed against the shore and

you hid yourself

in my chest as

you tried to light a cigarette;

unable to

get the flame

to catch the paper

in the high wind.

your mother had warned you

of the rip currents;

of all the dangers;

of that blazing

blue ocean.

and we could hear

the violence of the sea

as the white foam

crashed toward us now.

still,

we found small tide pools

filled with artifacts that

the ocean had brought here,

to the beach.

you picked up

a large sand dollar and,

brushing it off,

presented it as a gift

for my son

we continued down the beach,

your hand in mine,

uncovering

more artifacts

and unsaid words

buried beneath the sand:

my sadness

in leaving the

very next day;

an ex-boyfriend

you'd been talking to...

you brushed this off as well,

presenting it as

something harmless.

I accepted it

and that is where

the sea comes

to swallow me.

'cause when I look into your eyes

I see the ocean;

the possibilities;

the future

and I'm just fine

wading into the water,

with you, love,

on a moonless night.