The woman stood on the edge of a sea

She would never cross, just beyond its

Reach, bare feet covered in sand, dark

Eyes reflecting starlight, revealing nothing

Except what lay hidden behind them, a wistful

Elusiveness that seemed fathoms deeper than

Any ocean could possibly be, she came here

Often now, perhaps beguiled by these saltwater

Dreams and the moons power over them, or maybe

It was the wind in her hair, darker than her eyes but

Much shorter by far than her lingering gaze, though

It hung well past her shoulders, dancing to the music

Voiced like thunder in her ears, and I wish I could

Say what secrets compelled such a look, but I cannot

Do so, nor tell you why her hands were clenched so

Tightly at her sides as a single teardrop slowly took

Shape and tracked its way to her slightly parted lips, a

Teardrop she absently licked away, as if not aware she

Had done so, a taste like saltwater on her tongue to

Match the smell of those relentless tides as she stood

Just beyond their reach, dressed in moonlight but

Lured by the sea, bare feet covered in sand, dark

Eyes suddenly closed as she turned her face up to the

Stars, hands clenched, the night her only companion.

END

“Waves”