Most people say the ocean is a calming force,

The rolling waves crashing against the shore,

The smell of the salt water and screech of the seagulls as they soar.

But imagine the ocean for each grain of sand,

For microorganisms and small creatures that cling to the land. 

To them the sea is chaos at best,

Crashing waves attacking and retreating, taking captives, disturbing peace, leaving no rest.

Imagine the ocean for lovers lettered initials drawn in the sand,

Only to be washed away within seconds like Fate's forboding plan.

Or sand castles and forts built to endure,

Left broken, crumbled, dream palaces of children gone for good.

No, to me the ocean is restless and cruel,

Erasing remnants of things I knew.

Like foot prints in the sand,

Suddenly, alone I stand

With no past to be seen

Figuring but not knowing where I have been.

And even with each step I take, looking for remains,

My foot perturbs grains

Changing and changing as the tide swells

The ocean threatens as I dwell.

Beneath the water is no better at all,

As I plunge down, the sea roars past my ears and suddenly there is nothing to hear.

Muffled screams and gullls searching for their nest, a mystery all the rest.

Clouds of sand swirl looking for a place to land.

The deeper I swim, the more I can see.

Clearer the water and the dangers more open and free.

Animal eats animal and darkness below,

No safety, no serenity, emptiness seems to grow.

Slowly the sea swallows me and drags me down,

With no hope for the light world disappearing above,

Knowing disarray permeates all that humans seem to love.

Down, down, restlessnesss, loss and no trace.

Down, down, drown, down

Into darkness and peace.