#50

It's amazing how many people write about the sea

As if they know

As if it has stolen their breath

As if the view made their hearts stop

As if the water filled their lungs

As if the water stole their loved ones

As if they've heard a fisherman cry for his boat

They really haven't seen entire families wash away

Dogs returning back to shore

They haven't seen refuse from the 2011 Japanese tsunami wash up on shore.

They haven't even seen the sea shrink away from shore in that terrifying "oh fuck, that's what tsunamis do!"

The coast is a quiet place, because we mourn for what we've sacrificed to live there.

Some of us can't handle the quiet

Some of us cannot mourn any longer

Your "inspired" poetry means nothing when you haven't stood in a way of waves at 3am

It means nothing when you haven't shouted across the beach

It means nothing when you haven't thrown your pain and guilt at it

It means nothing when you haven't professed your love to the froth and bubbles and sand

It means nothing to me