Swimming at Sunset

cherishing time with my nephew

Swimming at Sunset

-“furticus”

 

He stands at the water line

avoiding cold water waves and rolling

sea foam with quick, stubby steps.

I swim and he watches,

calling out Da-Da.

 

When I come out

he stretches his arms high into the air,

opens and shuts his little hands,

and performs a nude tap-dance.

I scoop him up

and he lays his head on my shoulder,

his middle and ring fingers already in his mouth.

By the time we reach the chairs

his eyes are half closed.

I wrap him up in the damp tiger towel.

 

In his cocoon

the only sun block he needs now is my shadow.

My arms locked in cradle position,

I cannot read my beach book or write,

so I stare at my ocean.

He is sandy and sticky,

but still somehow soft.

The right side of my face grows warm in the sun.

I find my eyes closing,

my arms relaxing,

my breathing match

the rise and fall of his small chest.

 

Author's Note

over 10 drafts and as many years, any words appreciated, is present tense throughout effective?, is my emotion conveyed?

Reviews

[Taylor_McCutcheon]

The first stanza used the word water twice. Which is a pet.peeve of mine. But this is a great.poem. I could really picture it all in my head. Very cute

[furticus]

Thanks, I never noticed that before. And it peeves me too!

[RAOrourke]

Very sweet sentiment and love felt through your poem