the long day

a wave
comes and knocks you over.
you pick yourself up
and go back
into it.
to where you can barely
stand.
another wave
arrives and pulls you
forward,
back again.
the salt is in your mouth,
your ears
are full,
the sun is a blur
in the wet sky.
it's a long day in the ocean,
without a hand
to hold,
without a life guard
in the chair.
it all keeps coming.
the water is rough,
the water is cold.