The Sea and I

I loved the Ocean

As a Child I am told,

I got concerned for it, at low tides

I cried thinking it was draining….

I felt grief at its retreating from the shores

But as I grew, I learnt – It was just a phase

The sea comes in again, as it goes out again 

This reassured me.

And the as I grew older, I noticed I kept a distance

A friendly distance

The way I lose my ground when the waves retreated after hitting the shore

Was disconcerting to me.

I felt, I would lose control.

So we agreed, or I decided , we should be polite 

Like neighbours. Nice at a distance.

I even build a home, 

On the slightly rocky patch on the beach.

The rocks made me feel steady.

The sea and I, would now look at each other

But the sandy beach was tucked between us.

We had agreed to be like this.

Until one night,

I heard the sea restless

And when I peeped out of the window

I saw it creeping slowly towards my house

But not in a rage or swell

But in a slow, languish movement

Like spilt blood or wine. I don’t like either. 

Something about it’s pace  was unsettling

I had prepared for the storm, you see.

I didn’t know what to do with this

And slowly it crept to my door

I though of leaving, running, climbing, even dying

But I could do nothing.

The sea did not frighten me

My mind did.

I took a deep breath, and opened the door

Not like I had to,

the small gap between my door and the floor was enough.

But the sea was respectful.

It did not gush in.

It meandered at my feet, played.

I felt tears rising

I remembered this feeling, so vividly

The salt in my tears and the salt of the sea somehow were one

The sea kept rising..

And I allowed my felt to rest, stop trying to control 

I remembered my house was built on rocks.

And invited her in to my home

As she kept coming up, I realized I could somehow

See and breathe, underwater

I had gotten used to hold my breath

The sea assured me, there was no need to. 

I was home

Again