Tsunami

Teardrops had fallen and wrung my heart dry too weak to cry sweat had trickled down to feet and palms hiding in my bulging eyes. I had searched for three days trembling at a doorknob locking the masked one to open the bandaged one doorknob to doorknob the night of a mind searching the labyrinth of a deadened heart hoping for life. I had waited on the waves to return my cry combing the sand sniffing your scent among the putrefied begging the fish to vomit up a lock, a foot, an eye waiting on the waves to return my cry my heart jumped stretching my lips smiled: “I know you. My eyes see you” I ran ahead of my arms to embrace my life! Four steps on the sand where there were only mine Because you live I live. I wasn’t ready to see you die. First Place Winner: Brian Strand-All yours May 5/7/21