Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Breathe (08/19/10)
-
TITLE: An Ocean's End | Previous Challenge Entry
By Francy Judge
08/25/10 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Propellers slice the sky;
An artificial eclipse
Shadows sunbathers,
Attracts curious eyes;
Magnetic, hypnotic,
Is it another swimmer?
Beach town natives know—
The helicopter hunts.
I jog…
Each step settles
Into wet packed sand
White waves rush over my feet,
Hurrying to go nowhere.
I breathe hard,
Barely moving.
I stop…
A crowd gathers;
A young girl placed center
On a stage of seaweed;
She doesn’t breathe—
The sea stole her breath.
Mouth to mouth
Doesn’t work;
She’s gone.
A cry…
“No, she’s not!”
A teacher breaks through the chain of children…
Today’s trip,
Her last school day,
Away from city streets,
Ended at the endless ocean.
“Breathe! Breathe!”
But she doesn’t.
To the city,
The bus returns
Wet, sandy, sunburned kids
In silence.
One seat is empty
Is this real?
Why?
A phone call…
Her mother screams:
“How could this happen?”
Excuses can’t comfort.
Only God.
He was there,
At her first breath,
At her last.
********
This poem was inspired by a true story. At the end of this spring, an elementary school came to our beach for the day before lifeguards were on duty. My husband walked along the beach until he reached the horrific scene.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Such few words told this story, but they were weighted with emotion. Good work!