Through Your Eyes
by Lydia D. Hart

I walked at water's edge this morning
as if in a trance, aware of my surroundings only by the familiarity of the exercise.
Before today, these early morning sojourns
served to prepare me for another day's adventure.
Because you trusted enough
to share a bit of yourself with me, every fiber of my soul became acutely alert to nature's wonders.
The shadow of indifference
was lifted by your gift, and I was now able to see life's sparkle through your eyes.

My senses are muffled today, however:
The symphony of the churning waves
and the chorus of hungry, eager birds fail to sound reveille in my ears.
The damp sand makes no record of my visit,
ignoring the passage of my footsteps.
Today, I cannot marvel at the seashells
and small rocks as they are bathed in the sunrise.
Images of childhood pleasures
fail to materialize with the thick smell of low tide.
The salty mix of fog and sea spray
causes no virtuous sting as it washes over my new wounds.

I disappointed you, and I ache inside and out.
Last night, I overstepped the boundaries
that you so carefully had created to protect the frailty of your world.
The trust you cautiously offered up to me
was shaken by my thoughtlessness.
I wish I could erase everything
and coax "the whole you" back into my world again.
But your shell will close
in righteous fear, and my life will become as it once was.
However, I will never forget
the light you brought into my life, and how
I felt so complete through your guidance and friendship.
The icy fingers of loneliness
may envelope me again, but I will never forget how I once saw the beauty of the seashore through your eyes.
6/27/99

Copyright © 1999 by Lydia D. Hart
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