The Beach

The ball hit me on the head.

Startled, I glanced up.

The heat had lulled me into a catnap.

An apologetic young man

Charmingly winked,

'Off duty.'

Calangute,

That crowded haven,

Beach of life.

Bathers yelling in glee,

Sprawling on the silky sand,

Deck chairs in rows,

Thrashing waves,

High-pitched laughter,

Strains of music from the shacks.

I sat up and watched the beach ball game.

Soldiers on a break.

Laughing and lunging, 

Lunging and laughing. 

Such joy around everywhere. 

A deep, deep peace. 

Smiling faces, excited voices. 

People from everywhere,

Remote places of the world. 

Shacks serving multifarious dishes,

Drinks with sensuous names.

All tranquil, all happy. 

No network needed.

No dire news to disturb. 

The law of the sea here,

Where the sand seduces,

Surf scintillates

And birds set the pace.

Beach life! Where the religion is peace!

Where one bares down to essentials

For no armour is needed.

Where soldiers can relax

And forget the horrors,

The formidable call of duty.

Where a game means fun,

And defeat celebrated with a drink.

I see the young faces,

Joyous, full of life,

Soaking in the peaceful life,

The slow gait,

The fancy spread of delectable dishes, 

The pure air,

And the rhythmic sounds of the waves.

Why only on the beach?

Why doesn't this same peace remain everywhere?

Why can't people leave prejudice, pride, power,

Hatred, conspiracy 

And exist in harmony?

Why do they forget their origins here

And remember only that they're on the beach?

What makes them forget the strife, the animosity 

And recall only the good life?

Maybe the answer is in the sea.

That great, rolling mass of water,

That phenomenon of nature

Rendering man powerless,

A minuscule creature 

Who cannot even gauge its sheer depth,

The vastness of life it contains,

The magical harmony with which it continues its journey through eternity. 

Maybe it makes man realize his petty problems 

And gives him a sense of wisdom, 

Of the greatness of creation and the universe,

And reminds him of his real place in the scheme of life. 

Maybe, at least momentarily, 

He focuses on enjoying 

What he's got.

Maybe, if life was all beach..

Maybe!