Standing
Standing
She stands
Speechless
Feet firm
Sinking sand
All around
Dark hair blown
Wet curls
Dripping residue
From the sand-filled wind
Waves crashing
Blasting forward
Tempting her rage
To surface
Not allowing
Anything
To slow their
Violent progress
Her unabating life
Hanging
Upon this defiant choice
The category four
Soon to slam
Engulfing everything
That dared
Be in its path
People running
Taking drastic measures
Avoiding the destruction
Screaming
Wanting her to leave
Flabbergasted
By the fact
She stays
Others run
She digs in
Stoic in her stance
Defiance
Confidence
Reflecting
From the green
Of her eyes
Thoughts flashing red
They don’t know
They don’t understand
Few know
The why
The how
Of the circumstances
Standing taller
Pushing out
Her goose bumped chest
A concerted effort
Wanting the storm
To know
She fears it not
The life
She has lived
Is seen
In the wake’s reflection
At an early age
It crashed
Upon land
Stealing innocence
Leaving old bones
From generations past
Loneliness left
As its calling card
She wasn’t given a choice
She does get to choose
Her voice
Who hears it
Who sees it
Who experiences it
This alone
Is her gift
To give
A stranger
Slowly walking
Towards her
Battling the storm
With every step
To reach her
This person
Silently stopping
Standing erect
Beside her
Unified
Together against
The oncoming
Flood
Her energy
Intensely shifting
Spurned on
By the radiance
Of this new presence
The silence
Striking
Words not needed
Actions unnecessary
A clear understanding
She chooses
To stand alone
No longer
Alone
The intimacy
Of one simple act
Engulfing
Her senses
She reaches
Confident
Grabbing a hand
Swallowed up into hers
The immediate
Cold felt
Suddenly brings warmth
Frozen fingers
Engulfed in the fight
Together
She knows
Being alone
Is a choice
Being seen
An offering
The tide shifts
Knowing
She is standing this day
Courage
Tenacity
Pushing back
Into the sea
Rick Ellsmore
10/22/18
