Unconditional Poem by Brian Rihlmann

I stand at cliff's edge
gazing west over the Pacific,
my shadow far from me
on the beach below.

Seagull's cry pierces the air,
his shadow skirts the sand,
melds momentarily
with mine
then vanishes.

Down a steep
and narrow path I go
to join him,
my solo shadow,
and we walk together,
barefoot in the cold sand.

The horizon's lost,
a smear of grey fog
shrouds separation
of sea and sky.

Even when that dividing line
is sharp and clear
as a knife blade,
it's never quite
where you think.

As we walk I forget
the ocean,
taken for granted
as I swim in thoughts
murky as wave churned
beach sand,
clinging to my mind
like seaweed
to wading ankles.

But the sound's always there
crashing and hissing
in the background,
like a low roar
of unconditional love,
unconcerned
with being remembered.