Jack's Dancing in the Surf

by Charlie Rossiter

as the sky darkens

through twilight

to night

he's becoming

almost invisible

or is he transforming

to pure spirit

his clothes are soaked

and he's jumping

over knee high waves

it's eight o'clock

mid-september,

Mercury bright

on the horizon,

the moon slides

behind the face

of heavy clouds

that would be fleecy

in daylight

I watch from the beach

as he kicks squats

stands erect

stiffens

leaps runs kicks

waves arms

and flops

in shallows

my only hope

is 20, 30, 50

years from now

that fire he's got

still burns