I rediscovered you in the rough surf
I stood there and cried
As the waves crashed and dissipated
Around my own feet

I didn’t run away
For fear of getting my shoes wet
The getting wet reminds me
That I am brave

I jumped into the waves
With you, willingly,
Because I knew in my heart
We’d never drown

People who are drowning
Sometimes save themselves
You never pushed me down
To save yourself

You learned how to float
And ride the waves
The undertow was no match
For your resilience

My best memories of you
Are at the water’s edge
We admired the depth
The clarity and luster

When you go to a place
Of power and grandeur
There’s gratitude and joy
And fear of being forgotten

The cliffs near the coast
Are covered in ice plants
They seem to flourish and thrive
Despite the conditions

Today, the ice plants bloomed
With magnificent yellow flowers
I thought of your beauty
And the promise of spring

Through sobs I surrendered
The illusions about love and loss
The surf doesn’t recognize me
Nor my lamentations

We are where we should be
On the beach or on a cliff
Marveling at the undulation
Of the waves’ rhythm

My feet are wet and sodden
With the salty water—
Of sea foam, of tears
The cadence of love

We’re standing on the beach
Together, but sometimes
I watch you cavorting in the blue
Alone and liberated

It’s a helpless feeling
I understand that it’s not me
But just the nature of things
Not mine to control

I rediscovered you in the rough surf
I stood there and smiled
As the waves crashed and dissipated
Around my own feet

–Anthony Weeks
April 8, 2019