The ocean moved back
I missed its cool foam
its effervescent and total embrace
of my legs
its moan of which I became a part
its impossible grip on the earth
the way it fills my eyes, glistening
and endless
I missed its embryonic pulse
which made sand of glass
and wisdom of pain
when I lost focus it became
a sideways dirvish, fulgurous, ever-present
I felt, as it drew back,
that it was taking me too
my vision dizzied
my feet steeped in velvet
surrender
and fragments of abalone like rainbow shards
pierced the receding wave
reflecting, iridescent amongst remaining foam bubbles
exposed and broken to see, again,
the pale and radiant sun.