Lifeguard Poem by Barry Middleton

he studied the sea so often
he sensed its presence

his intuition knew danger
in the riptide

he could not save them all
some would die

he heard the rhythm of surf
in his dreams

the hands that reached
might pull him under

when he awoke
the sun was a fever

then there came the time
for him to leave

he looked one last time
at the horizon

he could not save himself
a wave was building

the tide no one can escape
would take him in