turmoil

the waves don't let anyone get too close

there are people who think they know the ocean because they have seen the water,

stood in the sand and heard the seagulls cry,

even smelled the salt air

but they have never touched it

those of us who still feel the crashes know the taste of sea salt all too well

from the shore they watch, safely

they see surfers dancing along the edges and fish jumping and how beautiful

how beautiful

but they have not felt it

they haven't heard the deafening crashes

they haven't seen the darkness

they can get up

some get closer, mesmerized by the vastness, they try to know it

memorize it

they try to peer in

lucky for them they can't get too close

lucky for me

they can't