Sea Bird

All the blues in the dark -

black and the smooth

in the white and rust 

in the russet - copper and coal 

of the stones underfoot -



trod without care, unaware 

that they're there until

tripped on with fantastic

lightness. Water so recently



sparked all the sand 

and the contrast 

of treasures weight dull 

in the hand as they dry



to preserve us -

the nature of gratitude 

thereafter - forever

with thanks for the memory

shared, though no matter

how hard we might wish it,

one was not there.