Beaches

Beaches - Sunita Shukla (Julius West Middle School, Eighth Grade)

go!

find another shore,

to waste yourself upon. 

my waves are not yours,

to ride anymore.

my moon is not yours,

to gleam under anymore.

my message in a bottle,

is not

for you 

anymore.

how dare you,

open the bottle.

did you not hear me?

it is not your treasure hunt.

so don’t ask

why the note has dampened.

but if you must know,

it was only the rain

(I assure you).

no,

that is not your name,

engraved on the glass.

erosion is a funny thing.

don’t read.

please.

im serious.

because,

if you continue,

you will come to

false assumptions,

which i have already addressed.

go on.

that’s right.

leave. 

yes.

don’t you dip your toes

inside my waters,

to test if my pH

is good enough for you.

if my acidity

sends tingling sensations,

like you can

once again

treat me like 

some science experiment.

so go ahead,

and 

stroke your arms,

pack up your

seahorses of changing colors,

mixed signals,

and wade away.

far.

from.

here.

wait!

watch out for the gla-

ouch.

that must have hurt.

i told you to watch your step.

told you

to tread carefully.

tell me how it feels.

perhaps,

we can compare the pain.

i might have an icepack,

but dont you ever 

ask for one.

for those cuts stay fresh.

dont look up.

you wont 

see me,

gazing out the window,

at the vast sea.

(nothing more).

dont text me.

i snuck a penny in my phone,

and threw it

with a wish.

too bad we’ll never play the penny game.

i hear you’ve thrown yours

in a better fountain.

don’t let it resurface here.

washed up love isn’t my thing.

if you ask (don’t),

i am doing well.

that second hotel room

is mine.

because i needed two ocean fronts for a date.

(we are rescheduling because of work)

(not that it’s your business).

don’t kick 

my sand.

like these grains aren’t the foundation,

of something bigger,

better,

than you’ll ever be.

like you can dust

anyone or

anything,

away,

in a heartbeat,

and act as if it’s beneath you.

finally,

you have learned something.

please,

continue,

turn your head away

from my current,

and let the high tide

carry you to 

the neighboring waters.

i hear that resort

is the hot upgrade.

i see you are an expert,

with this island tribe,

you’ve rejoiced on quite a few now.

i guess mine

is a mere pit stop.

did you enjoy your stay?

before you go,

don’t let that hole,

that message,

beneath your feet,

intrigue you. 

trust me,

it’s nothing.

I MISS YOU

I LOVE YOU

IM SORRY

PLEASE

YOU ARE THE WORST AND BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME

WHY CANT YOU STOP SWIMMING,

PLANT YOUR FEET HERE

AND SINK TO MY TOUCH

LET THE TIDE DROWN YOU

THRUST YOUR BODY INTO THIS SAND

MY TOUCH

THAT HAS EMBRACED YOU

SO YOU SEE I AM THE BASE THAT STEADIED YOU ALL THESE YEARS

I WAS YOUR SUPPORT WHEN YOU HIT ROCK BOTTOM

BUT THIS TIME I WONT RELEASE YOU BACK UP

SO I CAN WAIT FOR YOUR BUBBLES TO RE-EMERGE

I AM THE OXYGEN YOU NEED

NOW I AM DROWNING

HELP ME FLOAT

I LOVE YOU

TURN BACK TO ME

i'm not sure what it says.

it wasn’t from me.

but please,

take it somewhere to dry off.

it appears some rain has gotten on it.