Storm, Sand, Sea

A storm-streaked sky,

The aftermath of the thunder and lightning 

The rain that kept us up all night

The rain that smelt of fear

This morning we stand on the remains of a dune

There is no beach anymore

Just disintegrating sand and wild waves

The salt in the air that smells of false promises

The peeling wooden poles

That lined the walkway to the ocean

The ones we thought we’d forever walk along

All destroyed. All gone. 

The sand dunes fought all night,

Fighting to keep their spindly grass and pink flowers

Fighting to protect the homes along the coast

Fighting to keep the barrier between the land and the sea intact

We come together - to fix and clean and hope

We feel the last of the sand between our toes

We don’t replace the waves or the sky or the sea 

And we’ll never forget the storm