by this sea

i want…
   looking back.
though
   this steals…
           all that is now. 

so long now…
      since you.
 heart cross-stretched…
    ocean wide dark-fathom. 

castigated.
indulging never…
    what was…
  in thin-hope
     for what might be. 

now
    you travel by
       shores erode-worn…
      and
        swept to shadow-depth.

knowing
      where there is no wood
      the flame dies.
          why i am here
         building campfires
     by this sea?


~csr