I walk along the beach
And watch the scavenger crabs scuttle to the safety beyond
my presence. I walk with the tide just beyond my step.
The water rises and falls as some sleeping being
Which waits to catch an Ophelia
And smother her with its breath.
I watch this so-called Mother to all and she changes
To resemble a cat-like animal which eats its young
To save them from impending danger.

I look up and see children playing on the dunes.
The sun begins to set and they become specks among the gold.
Ahead of me are two elderly people, a man and a woman.
They watch me approach and make whispering comments.
I walk on, ignoring these reviewers of Man.
I am unacceptable.

I walk through the crevices of Pluto, Dark, with only a faint hint of the floating light,
And find myself to be a rock among the ignorant.
A rock with the power to attract and detract,
Yet only to attract the detracted and detract the attracted.
I am used, analyzed, and played with
In hopes of finding the secret of my skill, but finally,
When cracked and split, am found hollow of heart,
No live thing am I and so discarded,
Thrown back to the Father, Earth.
My two halves, side by side, remain unchanged but separated.
Attract and only detract, detract and only attract.

The day approaches night and the wind turns from warm to humid cold.
Mr. Guerra races after a crab.
"I'll catch it, don't worry!"
A child stands nearby observing the hunt.
Tiring, he reaches out carelessly and grabs the crab,
Killing it to avoid the pinchers.
I continue.

The gulls have begun to come in from the sea.
In the distance I hear a radio.
"The bastard king has robbed us of our Youth.
He struck while laughing and the carpet ran crimsom."
The parrot, with learned voice, tells us the event and flies off,
Leaving the People crying and angry.
Lips utter words which become habit,
"Can I die, can I die?"

I turn back and begin to weep.
I approach the tent of the elderly.
From inside comes the struggling sound of sleep.
The man listens, then turns on his cot and makes love to himself,
Floating on a bed of youthful fantasies and dreams.
Shortly he rises and urinates.
At death, it is said, the body rids itself of waste.

I walk on 'till no person is in sight.
I remove my clothing and stand naked in the sea.
"No longer am I of myself, or society, but of God."
I lay down, and am soothed by the tide that washes over my body.

"A smile is an instrument, beware of those who use it well."
The class was asleep, only I listen and laugh.
The class awakens, is amused, and then returns to their reality.
The professor rotates and leaves mumbling, "they don't know."
I laugh having passed and yet failed.
A smile is an instrument--use it well.

I stand and embrace the night.
My heart flies up to forever.
I groan with happiness and laugh with fear.
My senses are on fire and I leap into the hands of my God.
I feel my individuality and recognize myself.
The water whispers words of wisdom.
Listen.

I rise and enter my tent, tomorrow I shall be different,
They will think I have changed, I shall smile.
I look in the mirror and comb my hair,
I crawl into my sleeping bag and listen to the sounds of the sea.

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