rough air slaps up a petulant ocean / restlessness  
mounts / tension 
topples / breaks its surf
sings hiss hiss 

only used scraps of ordinary spread the beach
we stroll / as though at a tawdry market 
jingling coins in our pockets

just looking

we are mute dazzle ships 
designed to disappear / wanting to be noticed
fears slosh around us / horizons leer 
askew channel markers knell a lullaby

no answer /  answer
no answer   / answer

the  leaden sound doggedly hopes 
we understand 

we are dear / we are not 
we are dear / we are not
necessary

Poem: Jo Mariner / Image: Lee Miller _lostadventurer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons