Donna
Autorin
We ran out shrieking, kicking off neon orange flip flops, as we raced to leave our trail as footprints in the wet sand.
Tiny waves lapping at our cold-shocked toes.
Popping bubble gum, then briefly turning to one another, laughing in mutual understanding.
Remembering our lanyards looped around our necks, keys jingling while we hurried to plant them on the wooden fence.
Marking our Summer territory.
Emily, her bold pixie haircut, red- faced, said we owned the beach!
But the black backed gulls, who mimicked our screeches, thieved our moment.
This was our country!
The white boned seashells, beige colored dunes, a wide sun bleached sky, the waves, our closest friends.
Boy, how the sun burnt us in continents, drawing maps on our backs and painting our hair with streaks of light, of happy days and promises.
Stay forever we pinky swore, giggling, huddled beneath the same frayed terry cloth beach towel, lips bluish from swimming hours on end and belly's full of accidentally swallowed salt water, draped in good memories.
© Donna H.
August 20, 2022
Tiny waves lapping at our cold-shocked toes.
Popping bubble gum, then briefly turning to one another, laughing in mutual understanding.
Remembering our lanyards looped around our necks, keys jingling while we hurried to plant them on the wooden fence.
Marking our Summer territory.
Emily, her bold pixie haircut, red- faced, said we owned the beach!
But the black backed gulls, who mimicked our screeches, thieved our moment.
This was our country!
The white boned seashells, beige colored dunes, a wide sun bleached sky, the waves, our closest friends.
Boy, how the sun burnt us in continents, drawing maps on our backs and painting our hair with streaks of light, of happy days and promises.
Stay forever we pinky swore, giggling, huddled beneath the same frayed terry cloth beach towel, lips bluish from swimming hours on end and belly's full of accidentally swallowed salt water, draped in good memories.
© Donna H.
August 20, 2022
