Foundations

                                                 One day I walked alone, along down by the sea.
                                                 Crashing waves boiled dark as night onto a
                                                 gray-caste shore, hemmed in by a rocky cliff that
                                                 glowed warmly beneath the sun’s rays.
                                                 I admired the flight of circling seabirds and, amused,
                                                 noted the curious beach creatures that scuttled and
                                                 crawled around me.
                                                 I would even venture, at times, near to the water,
                                                 and allow the waves to push up near to me and lap
                                                 at my feet.
                                                 At length the tide began to rise and I, not sensing the
                                                 danger, continued onward. Oblivious.
                                                 Soon, I could not help but notice the closeness of the
                                                 churning surf, and had to scramble up upon the rocks,
                                                 upward to the top of the cliff, there to find safety.
                                                 Below, the beach flowed, more water than sand, and
                                                 I could see many of those creatures—oysters, crabs,
                                                 and snails—washed away, carried off into the deep.
                                                 I remained on the rock a while more, staring downward,
                                                 and then, grateful for my life, returned home.