She is my headlong smile, by Jordan Trethewey

On the Beach, photography by Phil Syson (UK). 2017. Used with permission of photographer.

She is my headlong smile

and when my back is turned,
eyes far out at sea, her future
my concerned frown.

Run to my foolish arms, tiny girl!
Let me be your carnival--
lift and spin those loose, little bones
like a beachfront Flying Swing--
legs suspended and splayed,
laughing at centrifugal force
until unbalanced equilibrium
threatens us both with nausea.

Back to earth, she stumbles to a knee.
sits listing toward the relative stability
of low tide sand.

Blinking back dune-swept grit,
amused eyes return through tears.
She grins...
​
Again!

Jordan Trethewey

Jordan Trethewey is a writer and editor living in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. His work has been featured in many online and print publications, and has been translated in Vietnamese and Farsi. To see more of his work go to: https://jordantretheweywriter.wordpress.com