the tide rolls in

you were never
one to carve your name
into a tree
with the girl
you were in love
with, or write
her name over and over
on a pad of paper
adding your
last name to hers.
you never thought
of getting a
tattoo with lucy,
or ginger
singed in blue ink
into your arm. no.
you sought out
areas less permanent
to show your
affection, like
the sand at the beach
as the tide
rolled in.