wishing on a wave

September 2 - September 7

froth-tinged waves

wash in

wash out

depositing, then taking

bits of stone and shell

sometimes rolling glistening gifts of

moonsnails up onto the beach

I wish I could ask the slippersnails stuck

tightly onto an old channeled whelk

to tuck the golden light and warmth of

these days filled with summer yet

hinting of fall into their shells for

safe keeping until a cold winter's day