early fall, 1973

the storm had missed

blowing into gulf port, mississippi

but the water had been determined

tampa bay, flooding the shore

school, so recently begun

on break due to the inundation.

my sister and I; wading knee deep

in the warm, salty water

laughing at the idea of swimming home.

days later, the puddles

so large that they caused sink holes

as the sand underneath washed away.

memories of a life, after the storm.

I can’t relent; the compulsion is too deep

even now, the puddle must be

vanquished…. splash!