Santa Cruz in January

Santa Cruz in January

I entered this state nearly

Twenty-five years ago and

Was quickly disappointed.

The emerald and cerulean

Seemed so near from afar,

Yet once here, I learned

One could drive for hours,

Nay, years, and still be more

Than a stone’s throw

From the seductive waves.

Now, with map in hand

And a road clear as mud,

I ventured to that oft-dreamt-of

Beach with a boardwalk.

But the water was murky,

The tide low, and the sand

Rough to the touch.

Swimming took more effort

Than I remembered--

So much so that I questioned

Whether I ever knew how to.

- January 2019