the sea is coming

routine…
marching orders
of a life
a love
you never took for granted
in your dutiful homage
to the inexplicable urge
to live
to resist
to love
and be loved
the sun
it beat you
the sea
… some days were better
than others
yet you reveled
in the beautiful things
that surrounded
your labor of living
resisting
those precious moments
you could hold her hand
see your babies smile
yes, the sea and the sun
touched everything
you ever needed
inattentive to want
touched everything
you came to love
and you did love
most of all
you were grateful
for the sustenance
the sea did provide
reluctantly
as if it was saving itself
for something yet to come
kissed her goodbye
you always meant it so
teased the little ones
and laughed
they hated to be teased
and yet
they loved to be teased
all gone
in an instant
everything gone
the sea is coming
the sea has come
to reclaim
all of that
which it ever did give
you were a tenant here
a passenger
you meant far less
than you ever surmised
so far less
than the good man
in the eyes of your wife
than the king
your children knew you to be