Rewinding

by Jenna Plewes

Winter storms have rubbed it raw
waves gnawed the beach down to the bone
left a skeleton of rock, slimed with weed

but now the sand is coming back
the swell is thick with it
waves cloudy as scoured glass
countless grains of sand

falling between the rocks
filling crevices, building  the beach
layer on layer, moulded and massaged
by waves, firmed by wind and sun.

I think of this as I undress her,
wash her, gentle her bird bones
blade bone, hip bone, rib runnels,
age has withered her

sloughed off all that softened her,
I want her rounded in flesh
the loveliness of thigh and breast
curve of belly, buttock, nape of neck

I want to see her walk the beach again
her brown hair tangled by the wind
sand stretching for miles
                                     and miles
                                                    and miles ahead.