Under the Sentry Rock

Blankets the car, the road, everything
damp, cool fog
thick, obscures the route
to the right, a turnout,
a respite from the glooma chance to encounter
what lies near the pounding surf

a walkway to the lookout
hangs above the
in and out
in and out
in and out
rhythm of the sea
covers everything in ashy grey

You
follow the descent of the goats and deer,
scrambling past the driftwood and the rocks
onto the dark, moist, sandy shore
to investigate

I follow not quite so
confident of each step
a small group of explorers
proceed toward me
along the surf
a solitary figure breaks away

Binoculars, well trimmed beard,
showing evidence of gray, salt and pepper;
blue eyes under the brim of the khaki hat
“Normally, it’s not this cold in
early June. The fog descends in August
ebbs and flows much like the tide.”

You appear at my side
protective, inquisitive
“Are you interested in natural critters?
Move the rocks and uncover the crabs
dwelling there”


Three footprints move to the boulders broken off
hidden beneath the overhang
of the sentry rock,
rough hewn with barnacles, white washed

uncover a treasure trove
of sea anemones, your favorite, and tiny crabs
in the shallow water of their home

the sentry rock overhang offers a
safe haven to starfish
gold, purple, blue
cling with suctions against
even the gentlest tides

so revealed along the underside
of the sentry wall you venture further
out to sea
While I remain on steadier ground
content to watch the
in and out
in and out
in and out
of tide and fog

you choose to return
lend a firm, sturdy
grasp guarantee my
safe passage back to
the moist, sandy shore

fog diminishes allows full view
of the rugged, jagged shoreline
yield starfish, anemones, tiny crabs, and
the sense of wonder
gives us a foretaste of the
journey ahead