On Her Toes

The wind, strong enough to keep the gulls suspended in air— unable to make any headway until a lull stretches itself across the sand. Beach grass bends to one side; tips touch the sand and leave fragile calligraphic imprints. The ocean moves rapidly and undulating movements of green-blue tear into the shore. White caps deposit froth at the shore's edge before retreating. It is too cold and windy, too demanding to expect shells to survive. They arrive on the shore as shards.