I forgot how afternoons could be simple and peaceful,
and how to lose myself in the murmur of the tide;
how life was – before the busyness, pressure and anxiety
- and ghastly decisions which muddle the mind completely.
How to close my eyes, absorbing the atmosphere,
appreciating the essence of the day, without it having to ‘count’.
I didn’t consider how a group of new friends could drift to the beach,
enjoying the break without guilt. I forgot how it felt to be healthy,
with a clear mind, and a future full of possibilities.
I learnt once again how to sit still, enjoying the breeze on my face,
and the smell of the seaside; how to watch a lone bird on a rock,
surrounded by water, and to casually wonder why
it was not with the others on the bank.
In this creamy sunlight, a pair of swans
are swimming in slow, silent circles.
The world has ceased spinning around me, and my spirit is lifted;
whatever the future holds, I am optimistic.