Driftwood

Burgandy Herrmann

From a distance,

It looked like an arm

In a long

Kimono sleeve,

Brown and flowing.

I imagined a small hand 

Sticking out of the

Wet cloth,

Each finger clenched tight 

Except the pointer.

I wanted to swim to the girl

Behind the hand,

Have her pull me into the water,

Show me where she was pointing,

And why.

Instead, I watched the wood

Drift from my view

Until it burned my eyes to look,

And I stared into the choppy grey sea

Left empty.