Homeward Bound

My run three quarters finished

I veer to the left and

Down the hill to the beach

I traverse over virgin sand

Breathing the gusty

Briney air

Guilty of my footsteps

Marring the beauty

Of the landscape

I look for evidence on

Beached logs

Carvings of lovers past

But they too are smooth

And without mark

The rollers

White and frothy

Contrast dark grey

Clouds

And the mainland

On the horizon

They reach for my toes

With mirrored reflections

I smile my greeting

The heaven’s showers

Open

And the downpour soaks

Me within seconds

I am overwhelmed

With joy of being alive

I turn and run back

And see I am no

Longer alone

A small old lady

Has decided

To brave the weather

With her two small dogs

She walks slowly

Picking things up

From the sand

Now and again

She has a kind face,

And when I raise my hand

And smile my hello

Her smile makes me wonder

If she is a Bodhisattva

In disguise

I continue on my way

Up the steep hill

Homeward bound