a thousand waves wrestled

to caress my tired self

paler grew the dark night

as waves ebbed and etched

across the seamless horizon

distant and dreary

the prideful moon

watched on

as a million tiny pieces

of sands and shells

cloaked my skin

concealed my fears

somewhere far away

a light came up in the sea

or perhaps

it was just the moon smiling in it

beguiling were the stars

for a thousand couldn’t drive out the dark

surface then sink

a million helpless memories did

caught in a tornado

an inferno of loss

the chaotic sea

willingly consumed

the beaten body and will

inhibitions lay washed out

on the shore

as I solemnly swam

in the bottom of

self-mortified abyss

feeling light

finally better

finally good

~~~~~

Asha Seth