Empty Shorelines 🗣

Intro

This spoken word poem was inspired by the #promptcombo word prompt:

beach

I spent years living in a beach community, but my favorite walks rarely happened under bright summer skies. I waited until after sunset, or for winter weather to send everyone else home. That’s when the shoreline felt most like itself.

The audio version below is the intended experience, though the full text is included underneath for anyone unable to listen.

Full text of Empty Shorelines

As a child,
waves tickled my toes.

Years later,
empty shorelines
found my soul.

After sunset,
fewer footsteps.

Winter weather,
fewer still.

Parked cars
watched
through fogged windshields.

I walked
mile after mile.

A few seagulls
walked ahead.

The waves
never asked
why I came.

Found me,
the beach always did.