DOG BEACH
Our dog set
free
on a beach
for the first time
for the first time
stares at us in disbelief,
then romps
along the scalloped
foam,
dashes full
speed
toward the silhouette
toward the silhouette
of a dog unshackled
in the distance,
in the distance,
doubling
back to galumph
over breakers and chase
rafts of pelicans,
over breakers and chase
rafts of pelicans,
hundreds of
them,
floating,
flying,
nose-diving down to a prize
nose-diving down to a prize
the dog
cannot see
or reach.
Our young son,
gone
these five
months,
would have
should have
raced him, shouting,
into the
surf.
For a few
minutes
as we revel
in the dog on the beach,
in the dog on the beach,
we forget.
This poem reminds me of two images, one was a photo I took of V. at the age of 4, it's taken from behind him so I see what he sees, the vastness of the sand and ocean, and from the hunch of his shoulders I sense his wonder.
ReplyDeleteThe other image is of V. and N. walking together along the coast. It was taken last summer, and somebody who was with them took if a distance from behind them, undisturbed in their deep discussion. I love to look at this image because it shows the closeness they shared that they could get lost in a conversation even when others were around.
Your poem adds to this image, and I wonder if while V. and N. were walking did they see strangers with their dog or child, and experience the same moment of wonder, even if just for an instant.
This is beautiful, Susan.
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