Standing on the balcony of my hotel room
I look out at the aquamarine ocean before me
As my pulse quickens with anticipation of searching
For promised shells in the autumn sun
And a walk along the surf of Hollywood Beach.

I race across the deck of the pool
Not really caring to swim in chlorinated water today.
Excitedly I reach the wooden staircase
That descends down to the beach
Looking down sadness sweeps across me
As I find that since my last visit
The sea took away the beach
And is crashing into the concrete seawall
That was built when the dunes were plowed away.

I step off the ladder directly into
The foamy white surf realizing
There will be no shells today.
All that I can do is stand there
Letting the sea pound against my body and sigh.
Proving once again that old Jewish saying,
"People make plans
And God laughs."