A Sea of Boyhood Dreams
An expansive view of tumbling sand and lasting memories
make seagulls swoop in broad paintbrush strokes
over brothers bonded by baseball and a broken home.
Within a sandcastle, two boys taste salt on their tongues,
a savory blend of pinky promises, dolphin sightings
and an acute ache for adventure.
Innocence crashes between truths untold and manhood. Whether a plethora
of clouds settle in their sight or brown eyes squint in midday sunlight,
their bare feet roam through foamy waters.
Down the beach, over conch shells and starfish, freedom thrills.
With curiosity and cartwheels, spry minds and lanky limbs,
youth salvages its adventurous spirit.
Four hands assemble a paper sailboat, not seaworthy, of course,
but fine for fistfuls of fantasy with a deck wide enough to hold their dreams.
Sandcastles and sailboats, cartwheels crashing in waves, daydreams falling
asleep under charmed stars, wide eyes seeking sand crabs -
these moments salvage each boy’s adventurous spirit in swept
paintbrush strokes and shadows of silver-lined clouds in the sand.
We categorize innocence, oceans, promises, adventure, dreams of boys
and paper sailboats. We try to soak up an expansive sea.
I hung a painting on my wall and tried to unalphabetize it all.
Life is messy and beautiful. Without the taste of salt on my tongue,
I could only live vicariously through the art.
Rhonda J Saunders, written 11/15/15
for Eve's Oil Painting's 1-2-3 Contest
Inspired by painting #1
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