the ship.

an old message to you, in a different time.

The ship of your love sailed away

and I was left in the sea.

When it disappeared along the horizon,

but not beyond it, where we used to be,

I swam to the shore

and sat for a while.

At times, if I squinted,

I could see your ship afloat

in the distance..

I started to draw things in the sand..

other boats would drift on by and

I would wave or chat

with a sailor or two..

I began to make small hills of sand

around the shore..

sometimes you would sail close to the shore

and swim to me from your ship

and we’d sit together

and draw pictures in the sand

or you would reminisce about your adventures.

Eventually, you’d swim away to your ship again..

After a while, I started to construct sand castles,

at first small ones and gradually

some as big as sky scrapers.

Your ship would be out of sight for a while.

Now and then it would reappear..

I continued to build castles and collect beautiful

sea shells and colorful sea glass,

I even began to walk around the shore,

meeting other beachgoers and sailors.

One day I would leave the seaside..

I would walk and walk

and would soon be far from the beach,

discovering places I’d never seen,

meeting people I’d never known..

Occasionally, I would visit the sea,

wondering if your ship was still out there…

and it would be,

along with other ships,

and I would keep returning,

and on each return,

I would wait at the shore

in hopes that a ship,

maybe your ship,

maybe a different ship,

would float to me 

worthy enough to board..

and I would..

I would climb aboard that ship

so that I could fade beyond the horizon

once more..

……………