The Present

Settle into stretch,

Settle into breath,

I’m never settling for second best,

Simply settling in each step,

Standing for each second

Tick tock on an underwater clock

In the ocean, barefoot,

Jeans rolled,

Taking each stride

The push or pull of tide

As part of the present ride,

Kids on boogey boards

The waves crash along the shore,

Water in their ears, sand in their hair,

I remember, once I was there—

Little girls scream for their mommies

Playfully, boys throw tennis balls and Frisbees,

Peace is with me—

I stop, waist deep or so,

Knowing I have settled into myself,

In this moment, a feeling of calm,

Ocean turns to bay and the smoothness of

Resting pebbles between my toes

(I don’t even have to dig)

 Is the best feeling I could ever hope to know—

Memories have stayed with me, come to mind now,

This moment never lost

The present at all cost.