salty sea water 

eats the shore

as birds cry a merciless cry 

up above. 

your ghost slips

between fingers

as you sink into the beach.

they scream with grief. 

the clouds sneak away,

off to the horizon to hide again. 

your bodies imitate the clouds

on the sand, mass graves. 

as still in death as in life. 

no nerves to feel cold

deep in uncharted water

where there is nothing but darkness. 

tentacles were slipping through 

icy water, but

you’ve sold your life 

to the beach gods.