The beach
used to be the hardest thing
about vacation,
particularly in returning
to the beach house,
to the phone.

With all the anticipation
of being hours away
I was desperate to see
who, if anyone,
had taken the time
to reach out to me.

But day after day
spanning the week,
that anticipation
was better left in the sun
with no shade,
left to burn.

Nobody,
always nobody.
The beach itself
eroded my hope
that never set sail,
my constant disappointment.

Fortunately,
I can sing
a new song now,
the melody of someone
I deeply care about
who is always there.

You, my dear
perfect the vacation experience
as much as you possibly can
without being here yourself.
My mind isn’t lost as it once was
in the nothingness going home brought.

If there happens to be
no message waiting,
I know it’s coming.
It’s your affections felt
across time and distance,
the sweetest anticipation.

Loneliness no longer has
any place at all
in the vast ocean expanse
or among
all the grains of sand,
for I am loved by you.