A Poem: On Sand Dunes
Through dunes we fought, the sand heavy between our toes,
The landscape deceptive and yet to show sign of sea
Or water in similar form.
Moving uphill was sluggish and nonsensical:
Everything seemed to work against us.
We reached a ridge, and steadied ourselves
As the terrain dropped steeply and tufts of hardy yellow shrubs
Tumbled
With every disturbance of sand.
Our calves tightened and our arms balanced ourselves
On the unsteady journey downwards
Until sun reflected off the view ahead
And seagulls dived aggressively, beaks open and wings spread
Wide as their shadows.
The tight grip of feet on sand gave way, our knees unlocked
And we swept through the descent of sand, jagged rocks and crustacean limbs.
Our legs kept going
And we feared they’d never stop.