I fight

I fight to get to the diminishing shore.

The rip current swarms me

Like misquotes on those warm summery days

That I can hardly imagine

In this strange dim glow.

I painstakingly crawl up the rocky sandbank,

Hands and knees dripping blood.

The deep red tears coming from my eyes are scarce encouragement.

It's just me and the clouds,

And the ocean that recedes gradually

struggling with me.

When I finally reach the soft cream-colored granules,

I only then realize how tired I was.

I stumble as I stand up

And look out at the dark

Brown

Rusty

Stains

That litter the sharply carved edges.

At least I left my mark.