I drove up to the lake today
and sat on the wooden bench
placed so invitingly by the shore.

I saw you,
with me,
but not in the way you think.

I saw you in the water.

From a distance
your silver-soft serenity whispered to my soul.
Up close
your desolate and murky gray beckoned my heart.

Constantly needing to move,
your changeable ways
as mercurial as the shift in wind
after the heavy afternoon rain shower.

But you always end up at the shore.

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The shore,
where I saw me,
but not in the way you think.

I saw myself in the rocks.

At the water’s edge
sharp enough to flay the skin.
But with every pass of your touch
I radiated sparkles under the sun.

Self-described as being pushy
but experienced as restrained patience,
time and again
you have cradled me with infinite care.

I drove up to the lake today,
sat on the wooden bench
and thought of you by the shore.

~Chippy 2023

Photo source: https://fingerlakessum.wordpress.com/category/owasco-lake/

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