1981
She sat in her chair
Laughing
(with concern)
When I put 27 grapes in my mouth at once
And got one stuck up my nose
Again
1982
She sat in her chair
Sleeping
(blissfully unaware)
While I dug a hole
All the way to China
Again
1983
She sat in her chair
Pondering
(with me)
When I sat beside her and asked
Why the sand was full of plastic
Again
1984
She sat in her chair
Reading
(romance novels)
When I was hit in the head
By a stray surfboard
Again
1985
She jumped out of her chair
Yelling
(things I can’t repeat)
At the seagull thiefs
Who came for our lunches
Again
1986
She sat on her boogie board
Grinning
(behind dark sunglasses)
Like the coolest kid on the beach
After riding the wave of her life
Again
2021
She sat in her chair alone
Leaving
(this world behind)
And I wish we could be
Back on this beach
Again
-Matt Beard