The Sea

Every wave reminds me of you and her

Your quiet longing for the sea

And the sounds of the water

As you sat gazing at it quietly

For hours.

You said it brought you peace –

The rhythm and the regularity

Of the waves and stretches of sand

For her the opposite

As she squeals in delight

With every wave that comes rushing

Unable to gauge its depth and power

Every shout different and louder than the one before

Then rushing to the shore to build castles

Scattering colourful toys

That break the monotony of the sand.

Others may see in you opposites

But all I find is the sameness

Of your undying love for the sea

Binding my past to my future

In a continuum that makes all seashores

But a reflection of the others

And unfailingly draws me to them

To relive the memories

As I breathe in the air

And look longingly at the sea and sands

That carry on being themselves

Unaware of my presence

And what they mean to me.