Devotion Poem by RIC BASTASA

admiration followed him from the men and women
of the beach as he walks one summer
his skin glowing to the sun: gold
the color of mud, his hair blowing freely
on his head, his steps mellow to the sand

a young maiden from the village follows him
at a distance but not so near bringing him his shirt
neatly folded in her hands-
a little bit angry, she looks at him lifting her eyes
but again not so near

she gives up devotion and throws his shirt
on the grey sand
runs toward the other end of the shore
and disappears

her feet are so tiny leaving this awkward
cloud when she runs away from him

he sees her vanish
ignoring what cloud she left from her tiny feet