Stillness

I stand on the waves of moving water,
the mud drags past my skin, moving the ground beneath my feet.
The rocks have stayed still,
waiting for the water to return,
for the waves, gushing forward like a warm embrace.
The sea waits with outstretched arms, for the sun
to slowly sink into a deep sleep
Eyes strain towards the sky to watch the dance
of fire on water
The ice cream man watches the child struggle with
the slippery ice cream, it will fall into the sand,
and he will hover till then, the sea breeze pulling
holes into his dull shirt.
People will return, I think.
We will watch the darkness surround us, I think.
We will laugh over the faded colours of memories, I think.

The ice cream man hovers.

I have waited, they will return.

The ice cream man hovers.

I know they will not return. I wait, I stand still.

The ice cream man hovers.

Do I wait with him?

But now there is darkness, and I can no longer see him.

The openness seems closer now, the sand is slipping away.

I wait.