Beach

moonset on the dunes
the smell of last night’s bonfire
lingers in her hair
–
night tide-
stellar sands blaze
across the sky

a windswept sandbar-
terns and driftwood bear witness
to the passing clouds
–
the water’s edge-
a plover’s tracks
turn to sea

approaching daybreak-
the sea air rimed with salt and
the taste of seaweed
–
sand and foam-
the gull’s cry
lingers

an old stone jetty-
the last hint of sunset ebbs
with the falling tide
–
ashen driftwood-
heavily sculpted
by the pounding surf

dark ominous skies-
the grey wolf moon veiled behind
a thin scrim of clouds
–
winter jetty-
snow falls on
the rising tide

whitewashed beach shanties-
a path of crushed coral ends
at the ebbing tide
–
salt air-
a gull’s cry
above the surf

unexpected snow-
an onshore breeze silently
stirs the bulrushes
–
ebb tide-
snow falls gently
on the salt marsh

warm sands and tropi-
the cat yowls and paws my face
demanding breakfast
–
morning zoom call-
for the love of god
mute your mic

drowning each of us
in the blood of our comrades
within sight of shore
–
tulips blossom-
death takes no heed
upon who’s grave

an ocean of sleep-
the receding tide leaves a
tangled mat of dreams
–
dandelion seeds-
bare whispers
of my mind