But I'm thinking of the ocean, The Atlantic, slowly ebbing the shoreline away

The seagullls squawking/ crackling their displeasure over meager pickings

But the wind is steady and I'm walking along the boardwalk without a care

in the world/The ocean waves dash alomg the breakers, the formation taking the brunt of the ocean in its blue/green majesty/There are concession stands with hot dogs and ice cream and the summer sun is dazzling. I'm 25 and the world is mine. I took it all for granted, the splendor of it all. Now I'm an old man and the beach was 50 years ago. Still the memory of the ocean lingers, the salt air and the sand. And I'm drinking in the memories of yesteryear when life was simple and there was war but it was over and the soldiers came home and now it's another undeclared war in Iran and it will lead to destruction of the world order/ China stepping up to the plate to become the new world leader while we're struggling with our own demons but the ocean knows and She's watched mankind with an unblinking eye. She takes and she gives all life. And the ocean is gray with mourning, her shores polluted, her majesty defiled but I'm 75 and all that is behind me/ Now I listen to the total silence of this apartment, not a car goes by, not a voice is heard just the hum of the refrigerator and the steady ticking of the clock.