Once I was a child
on a beach.
Building sandcastles and
searching for sea glass.
Putting my toes cautiously into the sea.

Once I was a teen
on a beach.
Watching seagulls and
moving my blanket to align with the sun.
Venturing into the surf
and battling each wave as it came.

Once I was an adult
on a beach
Sitting and contemplating.
Watching the clouds pass and
taking deep breaths of salty air.
Content to watch the waves break gently offshore.

Now I am old
and the beach is far from me.
In the water, first gently adrift.
then suddenly and swiftly moving out into the open sea.
A shrinking dot on the horizon, like the setting sun.

Denise M. Kandola. Copyrighted 2010.