A Mild Case Of Shell Shock.

A Mild Case Of Shell-Shock

on August 31, 2003.

Lounging seaside again
as the tropical sands 
trickle over my toes
perching here on a scrap
of bright sunfaded canvas
I'm a speck among specks
in my sunbaked, glazed flesh
fully drenched in warm oils
drying to a bronze tone
in my slingback beach chair
margarita beside me
feeling dapper and tan
~
While before me parades
in a tide till they eddy
nubile, young flesh, bikinied
huge pot bellies in speedos
mixed with muscle bound studs
watching people's amusing
But as I study...I hear
~
Many sounds that surround me
bounced in reverb off waters
in wide stereo waves
to the shells of my ears
~
Shouts of joy...childrens laughter
parents calling thier names
bidding them to be careful
as the surf bowls them over
and resets them apart
plus occasional warnings
blowing from lifeguard whistles
when souls float out to far
~
With eyes closed I discover
this cacophany takes me
on a nostalgic journey
over sands of time back to
tin pail days of digging
and building sand castles
when I was a wee lad 
surrounded by moats
~
And I swear I can still hear
intermixed with beach chatter
the sounds of my mother
calling me back to rest
but she's been dead 12 years now
and I'm, "Oh, so much older!"
then that little boys voice that is
shouting, "O.K. Mom!!"
"I'll be there in a minute!" 
I hear his feet pass my way
~
Could it be that the ocean
traps the shouts of past summers
capturing them in strange sound waves
that recede with the currents
only to be returned
at a much later date
mixing pastimes with present
as the roaring green surfs
cast them back from before
~
Or am I just remembering
all those days lost forever
snuggled up with my mom
wrapped in soft cotten towels
with her arms tight around me
now denied evermore
~
As I'm lounging here seaside
sifting sand through my toes
maybe Ive had a bit of
too much sun, I suppose
or from four margaritas
melancholy arose
maybe that's all???
who knows???

" I Miss ya Mom!"