How painful is it, to love the sea yet fear the water?
Having experienced what it is like to drown, not
Even the pearl-laden oysters may not tempt me back
To the sandy dunes that once harbored my soul.
The stringent lines of sand call my name
Through alluring scents of shore and saltwater,
Yet, I find myself unable to move.
The future merely holds a vision of myself,
Forever anchored to the docks
The docks, stout and stable,
They are tough, tested, tried–
Yet I am safer,
More stable among these decaying planks
Than I ever would be off the shores.
Experience is the essence of life, and
The ocean speaks in soft, hushed currents
With a sort of subdued sorrow–it breaks my heart.
A far cry from the torment and tall tales
Etched onto parchment and paper alike,
That I had once been warned of.
Making peace with weariness never stood a chance
To the wuthering waves, as they weaved promises
Of warmth and wonder among the tide.
Braving my anchored fears,
Swallowing down tears of wasted time,
I finally let the breeze beckon me and break my bonds gently.
I desperately hope I can still swim.
I take one step, then two
My footing falters–
Yet this familiar unknown cradles me
Guiding me patiently, until the fear fades.
The docks grow distant, echoes dimming every step,
The horizon unfolds, a home anew–
With stories uncharted, secrets unsaid.
My eyes crinkle like rippled waters
As the sea and I dance as one,
Its waves now wild, but welcoming still,
And I laugh in tandem with each surge and swell.
Author’s Note:
Seaheart is meant to represent a pleasure you cannot live without. The ocean is beautiful, but not crucial to survival, yet we are drawn towards its beauty. In the end, we always return to what we seek comfort in–even if it is dangerous.
Ayushi Datta | 17 | Ohio, USA | @theamazing_ayu on Instagram
