Ben Nardolilli March 2024
Through sea breezes and the haze of suntan lotion,
I struggle over the sand in my sandals
and try not to get overwhelmed by either the sun
or the people brought here by discounts and jingles
The glare remains intractable, I turn red and move
desperate to leave the rays behind,
in between the grooves of the dunes, I join a tribe
also looking to cool off without tasting the saltwater
A hail of frisbees and a parade of dogs, I dodge them
along with the obstacles of sudden moats,
towels flutter and tickle with pure cotton fingers,
radios scratching the air for music mask my giggling
When it comes time to rest on a patch of cool sand,
I keep an eye open for any wayward umbrellas.
they are going into the ground like spears,
with rainbow parachutes popping up behind them
Ben Nardolilli is a theoretical MFA candidate at Long Island University. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Door Is a Jar, The Delmarva Review, Red Fez, The Oklahoma Review, Quail Bell Magazine, and Slab. Follow his publishing journey at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.