The Beach Aged Overnight

From far away,
the kids become silhouettes,
sand crabs
digging in the surf,
dried out dune grass,
strangers,
glimmering clumps,
washed up seashells,
squatters.

The beach aged overnight.
Scoliosis shoreline,
the seagulls, wrinkles
in the forehead’s thin sky,
greying temples,
a receding tidemark,
collapsed dunes of
loose, sagging sand.

I cup a few grains for a moment
before breezes
strip them from my hands.

23 responses to “The Beach Aged Overnight”

Hobbo

January 13, 2022 at 2:47 pm

I had to giggle scoliosis for that inspired line. K.Hartless; genius at work.😂

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 2:52 pm
  
  Thank you kindly, Hobbo. Tideline was warped that last morning when I scratched these lines in my journal, and well, I remember getting my back checked in school. Don’t think they bother these days.
  
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  1. Hobbo
    
    January 14, 2022 at 1:39 am
    
    🙂 A tiny example of your emormous talent.
    
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johnlmalone

January 13, 2022 at 3:37 pm

the title drew me in, the plain spokenness of it and then that stunning second stanza, that voracious vignette, that stands alone; I almost resented the other stanzas

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 6:13 pm
  
  Off with this poem’s head. Thank you , John. This comment has me all grins this evening.
  
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  1. johnlmalone
    
    January 13, 2022 at 6:17 pm
    
    thank you, K; I had my editor’s cap on when I wrote this 🙂
    
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Experience Film

January 13, 2022 at 4:18 pm

A scoliosis shoreline is, yes, just the shape of the beach in front of my grandparents’ old condo. Best spring breaks Ever😌

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 6:15 pm
  
  Sounds lovely; grandparents on the beach, how lucky for you. I’m already plotting a return to the shore.
  
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  1. Experience Film
    
    January 13, 2022 at 6:21 pm
    
    There’s just no better place.
    
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abigfatcanofworms

January 13, 2022 at 5:17 pm

I love this. Such a dramatic switch from youth to age but so eloquently represented in the beach scene. And then the word “strip” in the last stanza – it takes on a kind of violence even in the simpleness of your action. It’s really a beautiful poem.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 8:19 pm
  
  Thank you kindly, Worms. I remembered there were lots of scrawls in my journal from New Years, and this one, well, I do feel she’s special. A moment really, like all the rest, but beautiful and brief. Cheers.
  
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Misky

January 13, 2022 at 7:05 pm

Absolutely gorgeous writing.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 8:20 pm
  
  Thank you, Misky. Perma-grin here.
  
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Susan Strasser, Blogger & Memoirist

January 13, 2022 at 8:35 pm

Thank you.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 13, 2022 at 8:48 pm
  
  Thanks for reading and commenting. 😊
  
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Jewish Young Professional “JYP”

January 14, 2022 at 8:48 am

That description of the aging beach is amazing

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 14, 2022 at 9:01 am
  
  Thank you kindly, JYP.
  
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Tom

January 24, 2022 at 12:15 pm

Another stunning piece, as everyone’s already praised in far better words than mine. 😀 Wonderful contrast between the childhood innocence in the first stanza and the visceral ageing imagery in the second, the rumpled effects of time. Wonderfully written, K! ❤

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1. K.Hartless
  
  January 24, 2022 at 5:56 pm
  
  Your filling my sails with these superb comments, Tom. I can’t thank you enough for reading and leaving me such strong praise. I’m very grateful for the boost, especially from your talented pen. Cheers.☺️💜
  
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  1. Tom
    
    January 25, 2022 at 4:06 pm
    
    You’re ever so kind yourself, milady ❤ So thrilled you've enjoyed my steampunk-inspired stories & left such encouraging feedback! 😀 Hope you have a lovely Burns Night ahead!
    
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  2. K.Hartless
    
    January 25, 2022 at 11:33 pm
    
    Thanks, and you as well. Headed back into your story soon. 💜
    
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wjwingrove97

January 29, 2022 at 1:04 am

good ❤️❤️

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K.Hartless

January 29, 2022 at 8:41 am

💜

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Author

Written by

Katie Frances Hartless

K.F. Hartless (she/her) is a free-spirited fiction writer and word trapeze artist. When she’s not juggling her career as a literacy specialist, she’s preparing her latest death-defying act on the keys.

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