Beaches

By Rita McDermott

Kicking back on a brightly colored, oversized beach towel                                                                 
Feeling the warmth of the sun and salt water residue on my skin                                           
Looking skyward at clear, blue skies and white wispy clouds                                                                                                                                                          
Grey colored waves with white frothy tips pound the shore                                                                                   
A colony of seagulls cry and swoop, like kamikazee pilots, along the beach.
                                                               
Soaking up the sun of the Atlantic shore                                                                                        
Jumping the waves                                                                                                                 
Sunburned body                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
The smell of salt water lingers in my nose                                                                                 
Taking a barefooted stroll along the water’s edge, the cold liquid nipping at my toes                                                                                               
Looking back to see my footprints in the sand.
                                                                                                                                                                                        
The wind...                                                                                                                                 
Forcing an unidentified flying object into the sky
Above the rolling waves
A plastic tail wagging in the air
Grounded to a sun worshipped body on the sandy beach
By a sole string.  
                                                                                                                                  
Castles and moats arising from the sand                                                                                    
Sculptures of Poseidon and other Gods
Delicately carved from the grains of sand
On display for beachgoers to be in awe of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Till the oceans' tide takes them away.

Rita is a retired nurse and army soldier, and an emerging writer from Northeast PA. She had successful publication with a number of her poetry writings, to include with The Afterpast  Review, Poetry for Mental Health, PA Bard’s Poetry Review, as well as the Academy of the Heart and Mind.