by the sea

by the sea, the pellucid emptiness
of the grey wrung dry
dishwater pale sky
by the roll of the waves
rocking the cradle of the child
that fell into its cold embrace
into the black well
by the rose-dyed stones
on the revolted soiled sand
the soldiers clutching weapons
that do not gleam on that day without sun
strung out and pushed into crowds
the lines of men and women
of children clinging to their parent's clothes
the men fell to and each line done
fell in as the shots spat out

11/06