the boy and the sea

the sun winked at various angles and degrees
on the powdered rock as it painted its farewell canvas of warm hues
soon, this tapestry would fade
since past the horizon, the artist was through

a patron of purples was she, yes, the sea
her complexion the antithesis of the work she admired
deep, dark, and blue, never-ending was her brew
in her, many a captain lost, along with his crew

one moment still and another crashing
always on the move and captivating when laughing
worth a trillion words
both despicable and dashing

such was so when the boy walked the shore
his toes grinding the salt of monoliths past and more
his eyes evaporating the mural before him
knowing to reach home before the colors dimmed

slowly, the moon spun the canvas around
as it flung glitter and chips of light
the boy’s pace and heart hastened
sooner, but not later, his feet were in flight

sand-vocalized footsteps
pattering in the dark
disturbed the sea’s slumber
with soft, silty start

had he been some other
her fury would smother
but something special, was he?
spared his life, unlike she should be

within the ocean floor, a stirring
emotions that, in her heart, must not occur
fearfully calling out to the boy, her whispers in waves
revealing stories and secrets told only to mermaids