Poem of the Week

The Beach After Sunset

Deserted beach after sunset
quiet no sounds from the midnight waters
not even mermaids singing from beyond the reefs.

The last time we held hands
seagulls flew over our heads
crying what seemed to be their bedtime song
but was really the loss of a baby gull

a sickly scrawny bird unable to
catch its meal at dawn.

It lay dead among the smooth rocks on the beach
out of its pain
beneath us
as we sat on the cliff
consummated by the salt air
scent of orchids and jasmine.


Copyright 2012 Julie Kovacs