Amagansett, Before My Daughter Leaves for College by Lisa Wiley

We marvel at the humpback whale’s spout,
spy its mighty tail

with our naked eyes
as children run along the shore

with sunburned shoulders.
We can’t stop the waves

from inching toward our blanket,
taunting our chairs and towels,

threatening to swallow
our sandals, chips, and books.

We only laugh and toss them
out of seafoam’s reach—

nothing can stop September’s tide
from taking us for a ride.

— from Juniper Volume 6, Issue 3