The Image

What happened? What really happened?

We were like children-

We knew we shouldn't have been there.

It was just like a corny old movie,

Yet it seemed so real.

The smell of salt air surrounded us

And made my senses reel.

Your arm around me was like

A soldier picking up his little girl.

The waves breaking around our feet

Were a quietly cheering audience.

The breeze from their applause messed up

My hair (no one cared).

All those stars were there just for us -

No one else.

And although the night had fallen

(And was quite dark),

We still found that starfish and returned him home.

Further along the way, I picked up a shell

Which wasn't all that pretty:

It was missing half of itself,

And was full of barnacle holes.

Colorless, it had been bleached by

Endless days in the sun and water.

But that didn't matter.

I picked up the shell and held it tight in my hand.

The next thing I knew I was home.

Alone.

I want to know - was it real?

I look over to my window,

Hoping to the find the truth,

And between the early rays of dawn,

I caught a glimpse of the shell.