Guard Duty

Sunset sweeps across the sand,
a painted sky smears pomegranate juice
in streaks against blackened sand,
forming inky puddled silhouettes.

Waves thunder a goodnight,
gulls finish supper,
swoop low, then wing away,
looking for a shadowed nest.

Fire drops its flames
into a darkened sea,
birdsong disappears, leaving
the ocean to stand its lonely watch.

"Spring Sunset" Photograph by Lottie Williams