on the beach

by Derek Smith

on the beach
i am still a child
no longer man
i am not unafraid
you don't believe me
the water is cold
the clams are feeling blue today
everyone with their family
i'm alone with you
framed in a circle
you are a portrait
that still won't sit
you could break the waves
if you wanted to
and silence the gulls
with a quip
while i curl up with the horseshoe
to take another nap
two boats in the distance
on different horizons.