We saw redwoods that twenty men
could not form a chain around
but there were some the wind
had knocked down
like it knocks down a candle flame. 

We approached seals along the shore
which barked when we came too close.

We spoke softly, being strangers,
and looked over our shoulders
and locked the car doors at stoplights
and worried as night fell 
about drug addicts sneaking in 
through the rental house windows.

We left them open anyway,
so we could smell the salt air
and feel the tongue of the breeze 
which formed the waves 
which broke on the shore
and resifted the beach
melting the day’s footprints
and tipping us finally into sleep.