I asked the ocean one question,
“Could you stay calm,
instead of being greedy and taking land away?”
He sent his waves to shore and took some land,
his way of laughing at my question.
He told me,
“If you were smart enough,
you would start working on the seawall early,
instead of working while I’m starting the erosion.”
He was quiet for awhile.
“It’s been awhile since someone talked to me.”
He whispered,
as if he didn’t want to show how he felt.
I promised him I would talk to him
if he would stay calm.
In return, he also gave me seashells.
“How did you know I collect them?”
“I saw you and your dad walking on the beach;
you were collecting seashells.”
He stopped to whisper,
“You were the only one who talked to me.
Now 11 years later...
you’re here to ask me another question.”
It all starts with one question.
