Seagulls

when you see them painted on canvas,

usually set serenely above an ocean 

as a flapping..V 

actually being there 

sitting on your beach towel, 

it's not whats happening; as a child 

I remember a few every now and then

Now..there's one for each beach-goer. 

they like to police line patches along the sand -

"ok, no food thrown yet, move along" (screeching).

and with their posturing chest

pushing aside other gullible arrivals, 

and then there's that one gray one..

who makes his way through all the posturing

to play the game.. 

the staring game,

who's going to blink first..  

beachcomber vs beachcomber. 

I postured my head up when I noticed 

a couple leave their domain of beach chairs

to go for a swim, one of their bags left open, 

soon a swarm of them landed, and some wobbled, 

over and began to snatch at the bag

I see the couple run from the ocean, 

as if someone yelled - "shark"! 

only to have their bag of chips

fly away serenely over the hot sand. 

being entertained - I searched 

the premises for something to snack on

I snatched a sandwich from my bag, 

and as soon as I went to find a drink -

"B*****d"! I yelped..seeing my sandwich

serenely fly along the sand, and over the ocean 

slowly turning into a..V 

all I wanted was a ray of sunlight

from that canvas.