Her nails were painted turquoise 

We stood on the shore 

She said, “I just can’t take the noise”

She tossed some half-peeled oranges into the bay 

The sky above us and beyond was gray 

The water at our feet just barely lapped

She pulled out her earplugs

I was taken aback

A black-white Bufflehead dove below 

She said, “He must know”

As the bird barely made a sound

And a blue pelican swooped down 

He took up an orange slice 

The woman pulled some seaweed from her hair and said, “Isn’t this nice?”

I looked at my purple Garmin as it beeped 

I told her it was good chatting and I turned to leave 

She grabbed my arm and asked me to stay 

As a bald eagle swooped our way 

I had a million things to do 

But the sky turned a beautiful hue 

The woman lifted up her hands

And all of a sudden Golden retrievers took over the sand 

I took off my watch and chucked it into the water 

Out of the bay popped a brown otter, holding it in his paws 

All my anxiety stalled 

As I was surrounded by the woman with turquoise nails and seaweed hair 

Golden retrievers and sea birds 

I lost all my cares 

I and the woman were so delighted

There on the beach, was beauty, warmth, color, and quiet