Gulf

I am 25 driving with
My wife and three sons
Ages 11, 8 and 5 across the
Texas countryside toward the
Gulf of Mexico to show the ocean
To our sons for their first time so
We can see the look of surprise
On their faces as they stand
On Padre Island near Port
Arkansas where I and my
Sibs first stood gazing
Out to sea a decade
Ago and then as now
We set to gathering
Sand dollars, shells
Along the sandy
Beach littered
With balloon
Portuguese
Man O'War
Tentacles
Ready to
Sting at
A touch
While
The Texas
Sun makes
The air so bright
It hurts the eyes so
After hours playing on
The beach and waves we
Seek shade at a dark haven
Serving fried battered shrimp
Fish and French fries called chips
We all Wolfe down with icy root beer
Laughing, smiling, relating our sea
Yarns of the day’s adventures
Then after motel TV movies
And popcorn we sleep the
Sleep of innocent youth
Dreaming of pirates
Buried gold ships
And for awhile
The world is
Squeaky
Clean
As my wife
And I smile at
Our brood as my
Parents smiled
Over us long
Ago with
My
Sibs.