waves

The waves were not waves
But curves that rested lightly
Above us, content.

We lie, hand in hand,
Shoulder to shoulder, fingers
Limp and eyes carefree.

I could stay forever
As flotsam waits to be found
Smoothed by the tide.

Time doesn’t hurry,
In fact it seems to stop, just
Briefly to watch us.

It suspends the waves
Above us, but in you I
Smell minerals, salt

And the ocean flows
Gently in your every breath;
I’m holding water.

The tide will go out,
And leave us sad, stinging, wet
But for now we are:

Together, lively,
Warm with optimism and bathed
With radiant promise

Curved against the shore.