When Dawn spread out her fingertips of rose, <br />we went down to the sea, and there in the shallows, <br />in a protected place, you lay on your back in the brine, <br />gently buffeted by the incoming tide as I carefully upheld you <br />in my arms. <br /> <br />The small of your back rested upon the palm of my left hand, <br />and I cradled your face in the crook of my right arm. <br />Every now and again, I turned my back to the swells <br />to stop a rogue wave from crashing over you, <br />to protect your eyes from the stinging spray. <br /> <br />All the while your auburn hair spread out like a fan, <br />dancing in the water and gracefully trailing behind us, <br />and at length I flipped you onto your stomach, <br />one hand under the breastbone, the other around your slender hips. <br /> <br />Shortly thereafter, forcefully kicking against the undertow, <br />tirelessly outstretching each arm and hand in turn, <br />you demonstrated an Australian crawl of sorts. <br /> <br />And we both laughed when you exclaimed, <br />'Poseidon will simply have to wait; <br />his underlings must scour the seas elsewhere <br />in hopes of finding a more suitable mermaid! ' <br /> <br />Even now I am amazed at the depth of your trust, <br />the way you, who prior to this day, had never so much as <br />waded into a cow tank, a pond, a river, or even a pool, <br />splashed in the surf. <br /> <br />I still remember teaching you to close your eyes, <br />to blow bubble after bubble into the ever surging tide. <br />I will never forget, how at the end of your lesson, <br />you draped your arms around my neck, <br />rewarding me with a salty kiss.<br /><br />William Jackson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-dawn-spread-out-her-fingertips-of-rose/
