CRANE BEACH TREASURE

I didn’t think I would miss the beach
I am not one to sit in the sand and bake,
but a friend asked me to go one Fall afternoon.

Along the way, the trees were starting
to change their colors,
slowly shedding from green
to red, orange, yellow.

The beach was sandy and warm.
We watched people and their dogs,
sitting on a large petrified piece of wood
sharing poetry.

Found ourselves at another beach…
no people,
just the seagulls,

an occasional jogger .

We spoke of life and death,
the beauty and ugliness
of the world.
Then a stillness, calmness
as we closed our eyes

to listen to the water
lapping the shore,
the gulls screeching,

and boats off in the distance.

A silence of friendship
a treasure.