Kelp ribbons roll lithely in the watery verge
Here, at this pebbly place on the rim of the Pacific
By extension all the seven oceans
All the Mobius stripped beaches that girdle these waters
Connected as immediately as any wave
This is one spot on the edge of the largest swimming hole on earth
There is no crashing surf here now
Just insistent lapping of lakelike wavelets
Tumbled and bleached forest bones border the beach
Thrown out of the great maw during winter storms
When the tides surrender what they will
Cold grey water a disguised mystery masquerading as the sky
Or revealing the black depths beneath the skin of this strange animal
That feeds us and eats us
Ocean, the supreme seductress and the original sin
The soup kitchen that feeds the DNA of all life
Ocean, always ready to betray our affections
With primordial fury
Don’t take it personally, we’re told
This mooned lover gets pulled out of shape regularly
Throws outlandish temper tantrums
Then, settles back into rhythm
Metronomic as clockwork
Gentle as the crispwind breeze in my face
Ready to fall for the same old tricks again
David Trudel © 2013
