The city looks pale and white from afar
it always has
and the surrounding light is blue
cut out like a paper silhouette
San Francisco is showing off
like a Mediterranean city on a hill top
a pattern of static electricity occurring here
an interference, a wireless vibration, a constant scratch
in the ear canal.

I leave this static itch behind
turn my car’s back on the city and lazily,
stop sign by stop sign,
move towards the end point. Where
sand bank meets ocean.
I pass the pastel colored houses of the avenues
a watercolor scenery after the first winter rain
drops soaked through the urban crust.

Sleepy and sleeping in
I get to imprint myself
the first footsoles on damp beach sand
the horizon dissolves into itself
replaced by white ocean water
muted sounds of a grey feather duvet.

I look through the funnel of my hooded raincoat
and spy a black uniform kneeling on his board
the shelter of my hooded head brings back memories
field trips in daycare as a young child
fine observations of rain without the threat of getting wet
attention paid to drumming of raindrops on rubberized fabric,
sensation of wet skin.

I am on a field trip in my own city
on a rainy day when most people leave the beach
alone to sip yet another cup of coffee.

Shells from a pile of different clams are torn apart
lying naked after a breakfast loot
shells no longer displayed in their mirrored position
one ear shaped, indigo blue mussel has been dismembered
tossed to accompany half of a no longer haughty scallop
like scars from the raid of a viking’s axe
a sand dollar’s shield has been pierced through,
bearing witness to the constant dinner party
we all consist of.

Another black uniform moves like a ninja across the pixelated sand line
uniforms vacuum tight, sealing the body and its many imperfections in place
drawn in a crisp black Sharpie line against the paleness of this day.
It stretches toward the thick feathery sky
loosens limbs and convinces himself to battle
repeated movements like a muslim prayer
women dressed in black from head to ankle
throwing themselves to the ground in suffering compulsions
from the pain of lost children.