Ventura Poem by Wendy Dobro

It means “Good luck”.
I spent some time there a while ago,
With water and sand rushing between my toes.

I cried when I first got there for the beauty.
Migratory birds passing through along the shore,
As did the weather and other creatures, too.

Migratory vagrants, some veterans,
Fishing on the docks, sleeping in the reeds,
Holding signs and begging for change.

I liked it there.
My luck wasn’t bad,
But I didn’t stay there long either.