a little poem...

for my poetry class we literally have to crank out poetry. this on might still be in transition (actually, it definitely is) but i thought i'd share it anyway:

Grounded

I used to let the ocean take me,
out to sea with the prickly urchins
and the stinging jellyfish
that rise, unafraid, to the top
top of the tide.

Today I am grounded
on the cement wall, eyes
for nothing but the water,
willing the wonder of a million miles
to come (as once it did) and rest
beside me, a small hope of more
crusted in salt and sand.

Now - a damp cement smell mixes
badly with the bitter taste of seaweed.
I dropped my fistful of shells
broken, years ago when flip-flops,
sand-filled, were left beside a trusting stone
and I walked (eyes torn
between the stretch of the sea
and mystery of the treasure-filled sand)
with wonder.

Today the molding wet sticks
to my soul. Foot-print free
it catches and dries, too heavy
to rinse off in the coming waves.