seaport morning gray day
clouds, fog and mist
old sailors can see, smell, feel,
almost touch,
taking them back to
days at sea
tossing and turning
like Bobby Lewis could never imagine,
feeling her calm power
pitching and heeling in white capped waves.

the sailors’ memories will fade
as the marine layer burns off
clouds, fog and mist
with the southwestern sun
proclaiming its place of beauty;
the beach becomes joy for
sun worshippers and surfers;
but
the marine layer, holding the sailors’ memories
retreated out to sea,
hanging like a scythe on the horizon
to move back in as the sun sets
bringing back the siren of the sea
in clouds, fog, and mist.