I descend
knee deep
into chilly refreshing water.
Feet sink
into wet rocky sand.
Water splashes
droplets fall lightly on my face.
I walk deeper.
A tide so low
you could walk for miles still keeping your head above.
I wave my cousin on
urging her to descend deeper into the salty waters.
Water rises up my legs
reaching up
to touch my shorts.
Boats chug past.
The engines play a soft melody in my ear.
New adventures await
the content sailors.
Eyes stay focused ahead,
hands stay fastened to the wheel,
waiting for whatever the ocean brings.
Navigating the cold
wavy waters
breezy ocean winds.
I look back down
to water’s sandy surface,
to creatures below.
It’s not there.
I continue on until I see
small sand dollars.
My hand plunges into the crisp water.
Found one!
My sister and cousin come splashing over
to admire the small treasure
I have found.
They lightly hold the precious creature,
as if their lives depended on it.
I smile and hand them the sand dollar,
to add to the collection
and continue looking
in cool, salty water,
on this breezy day,
in Manchester.