Moment Ashore
he sat on driftwood
wriggling his bare toes into the cooling sand
the moon was gold and warm
a lemon lollipop resting on the reach
sugary ... tart, (like her kiss)
summer's promise was spread before him -
mysterious and magical
dark bay sparkling like a puddle of pearls
with a big canary diamond dangling on its bosom
lights of the town on the opposite shore, dancing
(as she once danced)
stirring something deep within his gut
like the moon on the water or a thunderstorm, rumbling
something about them made him feel ... immortal
as if his worries were no more than thistles on the breeze
a flood of youth and promise and HER
all coming at once, surging his marrow
the hopes he felt then, swirling inexorably with the
bitterness and longing he knew now
of worlds left unconquered ...
oh, the numberless oaths taken and given ... and gone
those heartfelt promises of a full life together
sworn for all time, and meant as just that -
pure ... solemn ... unbreakable
as sacred as a child's prayer
now, drown by the black oblivion of time
as dark and deep as the bay
those words they had both spoken so many times -
words of commitment and love and intent
as precious as any that came before ... or since
yet now, as distant as the stars themselves
and his empty heart, as cold as the great expanse ...
that held them.
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