Arayette sat <br />on the driftwood <br />her feet hanging limply <br />as the water eased <br />quietly toward shore <br />kissing her ankles <br />before rejoining <br />the restless ocean <br /> <br />The night was still <br />pulsating with the energy <br />left behind by the crowd of <br />surfers who had wandered <br />away an hour before <br /> <br />Every now and then <br />a soft breeze lifted <br />a wisp of Arayette's hair <br />and played it across <br />her moist lips <br />causing her mouth <br />to unknowingly smile <br /> <br />She automatically <br />raised her hand and <br />removed the mischievous <br />threads of hair <br />letting her mouth <br />return to its <br />original look of <br />hopelessness <br /> <br />Her shoulders bare <br />but for the thin straps <br />of the hot pink bikini <br />suddenly sagged and <br />if not for a slight <br />movement whenever she <br />remembered to breathe <br />life amidst the beauty <br />was not hers to claim<br /><br />CAROL HUGHES<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/unfeeling-amidst-beauty/
