my goggles are squeezing my face
and i'm squeezing your right hand
a bag of frozen peas in your left
we plunge into the water at the same time
it's so cold but my body adjusts quickly
and our hands separate
we make eye contact underwater
and you smile as if you are saying "ready?"
"yes"
the peas fall out of the bag and fish come darting up
swimming around our legs, scratching us
some are so big and some are tiny
i grab at them because i know it makes you laugh
and i've never seen so many at once
my hand finds yours again and i can hear you laughing
through the water
you know that sound - bubbly and full of air
we come back up to the surface
and we laugh and kiss for minutes
my hand in your right
empty bag of peas in your left
City of Salt
i love to watch you concentrate
your hair has grown so long and one of your curls falls in your face
you have blue jeans and black shoes
and the shirt i bought you last year
your eyes are squinted
your tongue slightly out of the corner of your mouth
watching your patient strokes
up down
up down
you are so precise, so unlike me
it is refreshing
i watch you exhale as you remember to breathe
you've mixed the most beautiful color
it's the color of your eyes when you're near the sea
you look to me and ask "what do you think?"
i am in love with it dear
and i haven't even seen it yet
Pacific Coast Highway
we're waiting for you and we've already ordered
it took me a long time to decide what to get
if you were here you'd tell me what's best
i take a picture of her
i can't wait to see you
there aren't any waves, which you hate
and the marine layer is just beginning to fade away
i have the window seat and i'm waiting to see you appear
finally i hear the familiar sound of wheels rolling over the sidewalk
and my heart beats a little faster
and you roll into view
you look so cool and you make it look so easy
your blue shirt is unbuttoned and blowing behind you
i run to the door and you kiss my forehead
i feel safe
Howlands Landing
we're allowed to be out for one hour exactly
we meet at the normal spot
and i have the big white blanket
full of sand from the night before
i grab your hand and we walk towards the shore
away from the hundreds were surrounded with all day
we set it out in the same spot we always do
i think it's the same spot
we kick off our shoes and stare at the sky
you know all of the stars
i pretend to remember them when you teach me
the time goes by too fast
way too fast
it's 10:52
i've never felt so in love
