Mermaid’s Cove

Below the dark grey lines
nothing marks the sand that is a cove for a time
shelled colonies sleep during the ocean’s retreat
each minute the waves move closer
a pool disappears, anglers remove, carpeted rocks submerge.

We are here for but a while, coffee cups 
emptied, our footsteps washed away, we leave
only our thoughts, time to move on.

Ciaran Burke