With the sun on our backs and the waters lapping around our feet, we were dazzled

by the beckoning blue shimmering, our clothes

held aloft like precious gems. Wading

into the bottomless, swirling sands suckling

at my toes each step, pulling me deeper. The earth

underfoot deserted me to the swells, all around creamy

froth and salted spray, a flash of orange buoy

panic breeding in my young mind, the frantic thrashing

a jellyfish, you said, which didn’t calm the

terror until our Samaritan arrived.

Shivering, mouthfuls of coarse air at home, empty-handed

your soggy money drying in the window, the looks on their faces.

 

Your soggy money drying in the window, the looks on their faces

shivering mouthfuls of coarse air. At home empty-handed

terror until our Samaritan arrived.

A jellyfish, you said, which didn’t calm the

panic breeding in my young mind, the frantic thrashing

froth and salted spray, a flash of orange buoy

underfoot deserted me to the swells all around, creamy

at my toes, each step pulling me deeper, the earth

into the bottomless swirling sands suckling.

Held aloft like precious gems, wading

by the beckoning blue shimmering, our clothes

lapping around our feet, we were dazzled

with the sun on our backs and the waters.