walking the shore,
smells of the ocean 
portuguese men of 
war lying on the beach, 

shriveling in the heat, still dangerous
with their sting.  waves roll in,
fish suspended inside, crashing ashore.
a stingray bursts from the sand, flying over
the ocean bottom. 

sunbathers nearly nude catching rays, 
oblivious to the world, intent on
baking to a golden brown, abusing their 
skin, becoming prematurely old, for the
sake of color.