I am sitting on the beach on a breathtakingly beautiful day. The waves lap against the shore with predictability. I am grateful for this time to sit by myself and just feel. I close my eyes and listen. The sounds of the beach soothe me. I imagine myself floating on a raft, the waves gently lifting me up and down as I drift away from the shore. I feel happy and at peace. Later I will write about this moment in poetic verse.
It is forty-six years later and I am sitting at my desk. I am alone. The silence overwhelms me. I open my blinds and watch the sun fade away. I close my eyes and transport myself to that small strip of beach hundreds of miles away. I feel the sand between my toes. I hear the waves lapping against the shore. I see a ship in the distance and I wonder where it is going. I imagine swimming out to the ship. I feel tired and so afraid I might drown.
I open my eyes and start searching through my desk for the faded papers filled with poetic verse.
They are discovered under decades of files.
I read each poem hoping to find the girl who once knew how to swim.
You CAN learn to swim again, I know we are speaking metaphorically but you CAN! Maybe this time, try it in a different way? Water Aerobics?
Anything that will make a BIG splash would be wonderful! Thanks for your comment!
This was really beautiful, Debi.
I miss that feeling of being unafraid to anything.
Oh Debi, this is a beautiful vignette! Memories, poetry, water, time passing. This is poetry! This is inspiration. Maybe even I could learn how to swim. Is this metaphor or dual level?
Thank-you!
A little of both! Thank-you for sharing your thoughts.
What a lovely moment,,,find that girl, the one who can swim, I think you’ll like being her again…sand between your toes and ships on the waves.
I’m trying very hard to find that girl! I appreciate your thoughts. Thank-you!
You never forget how to swim…you just have to let yourself remember.
Very true! Thank-you!
I never was that girl. In my desk are old grocery lists. See? You are way ahead of many of us!
Loved your comment. Thanks!
I love this. The beach is my calming place. I love to think of walking along the edge of the surf looking for sand dollars. Even though I never get to actually be there, I can always close my eyes and imagine it.
I’m glad you could relate to what I wrote! Thanks for sharing!