A National Seashore


swimming this ocean
full of arms and legs
and hearts
and souls
and love and hate
and pain
and triumph
and death
and life

i'm trying to tread
above it all
my arms are aching
from the pull of the tide

tide of souls
all swimming
trying to tread

some find land
others give in
and sink down

others yet
have strong arms
and stay on top
of current
and swim until their end

i am not sure
if i'm strong enough
to fight the undertow

and i know i'm
stuck here

in this ocean
of blood and tears