Sunset Poem by Saamik Long

On the pale sea beach
I sat thoughtlessly and lonely.
The sun bowed lower, and threw
Glowing red stripes on the water,
And the white, wide waves,
Driven by the flood,
Foamed and rushed closer and closer -
A strange sound, a whisper and whistles,
A laugh and murmurs, sighs and roars,
In between a lullaby secret singing -
I felt as if I heard lost legends,
Ancient, lovely fairy tales,
Which I once, as a boy,
Heard from neighbor's children,
When on summer evening,
On the steps of the front door,
Crouched down to quietly tell,
With small listening hearts
And curious eyes; -
While the big girls,
Beside fragrant flower pots,
Sitting across the window,
Rose faces,
Smiling and glamorous.