The wind styling my hair like a punk rocker,
Seagulls shouting to be heard over the waves,
Nature’s colours blending seamlessly
From summer green to autumn gold.
The aroma of the ocean, salty minerals
Woven with wafts of seaweed.
Seaweed pods looking like alien sacs,
Drifting in on the tide to take over the world.
A myriad of sea snails suckered to rocks.
How do they breathe in and out of the water?
The chill of the water tickles my toes,
And I squeal like a child.
I watch the brave swimmers ignoring the cold,
Heads bobbing like Halloween apples in a bowl.
Dogs dash along the beach, excited to play.
Some stay closer to their humans while some run free
Without a worry in the world,
Enjoying shifting sand beneath their paws
And the fast wind on their faces.
Ears flapping, tails wagging.
Listening to chit chat as people pass by,
Imagining their stories in this book of life.
Watching a gardener tending to the plants,
The fishermen bringing in their catch,
The ice-cream seller hoping for a sunny day,
The seagull waiting for the ice-creams to fall,
A dog waiting to fetch an unthrown ball.
The waves tumble over each other in hypnotic rhythm,
They scramble to stay on the beach,
The tide pulls them into the ocean,
Creating mightier, powerful swells.
This is a magical place to get lost in moments.
To recover yourself
When you didn’t know you were hidden.
I really must go now.
But just one,
One, final look out
To sea.
Naomi Rettig 