Carolina Breakers

Standing in the surf
Within Carolina breakers
The tide rolling
My hips
Sand washing my feet
Above
Gulls calling
Circling
Diving
In high arcs
And swoops.

Sea brine
Bit my tongue
While last night’s rum
Boiled my belly
And I still felt
That heady swirl
Compliments
Of Capt. Morgan
And a gut full of
Last year's venom.

There is little romance
Where sea grasses kiss the dune
Where tides polish sands.
Here all is reduced
To the incessant rhythm of seas
And the dare
To stand alone in the tide.

Somewhere beyond the breaker
And coral reef
Lie the bones
Of fools like me
Who believed in sirens
And maidens
That slice and laugh at the dying man
Who staggers
Within Carolina Breakers.