Sand Dollars
I saw her form far off
Flutter shirttails and flop sun hat
We both walked along the ocean shore early
Alone with only my thoughts a long time now
I let my fancy flow
And I imagined I’d fall in love with her
That she was in the real estate game
Or better, that she had property to unload after her divorce
That we’d fix up the land and set up house
As I approached her
I noticed she was meandering my way
I smiled encouragingly
Good morning, she greeted
Good morning, I agreed
She carried a basket and I asked if she had found anything good
Sand dollars she said with a smile
I’ve seen a few, but all of them broken
Come back at 11:32
11:32 - so precise?
11:32
We said our goodbyes
Each of us walking in different directions
I returned to the hotel to begin my work
At 11:30, instinctively I broke from the computer, remembering her invitation
I masked up, put on hat and sunglasses and drove the truck onto the sand
11:32
Low tide
Gathering time for expectant gulls and savvy beachcombers
I walked the wet line where the water receded from the shore
Avoiding jellyfishes and dead crabs, broken oyster shells
Stepping between odd human debris
Bits of bonfire garbage and broken buckets
And then gleaming, shiny in the shallow water
An imperfect dark circle with God’s geometric mark
I harvested five more perfect sand dollars
Holding each one tenderly in my swinging hand
It was crucial I did not let the stars return to sand
Careful not to crush, I cradled the thin shells
It occurred to me that my heart was a lot like these sand dollars
I hoped to find her all that day
Strained to see the female form
Materialize out of sea mist
I imagine our meeting again
Presenting her with my fragile gifts
A handful of thin sand dollars
and one slightly sandy heart