Beached

He’s standing on the beach

with a small suitcase.

Not sure if he’s coming or going,

if it’s an arrival or departure.

It’s unclear.

It’s unclear

if the suitcase is full 

or if it’s empty.

Once he packed it full

of his dreams, but now

it’s unclear

if any remain.

If any remain caught

in the lining, perhaps.

Or if all have been carried away

and are gone forever on a storm tide,

or washed up and buried in the sand.

It’s unclear.

All that is clear

is the emptiness 

of a long horizon.

First published in Paper Planes Inflight Magazine, Spring 2016

http://inflightlitmag.com/issues/issue7/