The Tide

One summer day I was caught in the tide.

A wave socked me in the stomach,

Lost in a world with no gravity

I wrestled with the concept of nothing,

Bending to the curve of every spiral

Of a deeper plunge down.

Bellowing clouds of sand

Smoothed me into

a pulp of confusion.

I think I hit the bottom somewhere

And in the deep I found a hope

That there must also be an up

Where the rays of light breaking through foam

Could warm this hollow chill.

So I let go

Of treading water,

Fighting nothing

That was somehow everything

And more than I could ever hold,

Cursing commandeering currents.

I washed upon the shore with

Skinned knees and seaweed hair

The sun baking water upon my face

And remnants of tide whispering goodbye

Over the shells that cut me clean,

To find the truth of all I've missed.