The tide

My daughter
The hesitant
The cautious
The content to stay here daughter

Sticky with sand and sunblock
Diaper soaked in seawater

Scooted her way across the beach
Through a valley of sand and shells and rocks
Straight to the ocean
To the waves
To the seaweed
To the infinite possibilities
To the ocean

And my daughter
The hesitant
The cautious
The content to stay here daughter

Paused

And then scooted her way into the ocean

The cold May water splashed
And I waited for a cry
Instead, there was shocked silence
And then

My daughter
The hesitant
The cautious
The content to stay here daughter

Laughed at the tide.