Sunset at sunset

My son laughed in the freezing November tide.

I thought about my father taking me to the beach
and how he would go so far out into the ocean by himself,
leaving me to watch from the distant shore.

Each time he disappeared behind a wave I waited in anticipation for him to reemerge.
My heart was filled with a sick unspoken dread that the sea monsters would take my dad.

But each time his head would reappear and I would say a prayer of thanks.

Now, my son, ran to the ocean. Unafraid.

I ran behind him, took his hand, and held on tightly.

If the sea monsters want him, they've got to take me first.