I miss going to the beach until seven o’clock.

I miss getting rashes from using the boogie boards.

I miss having to run back to the water to get sand out of my eye.

I miss having brunch on the beach with my family.

I miss doing backflips off of my aunts shoulders.

I miss getting Wilbur’s ice cream.

I miss losing the sandcastle contest every year.

I miss eating Chinese food on the beach for my birthday.

I miss going to the movies during storms.

I miss playing frisbee in the yard.

I miss having cartwheel competitions on the sand.

I miss having baseball games at the field.

I miss late night bike rides down to the cove.

I miss making sea glass in the rock tumbler.

I miss pretending to scuba dive off of our surfboards.

I miss going birthday shopping with my aunt.

I miss watching my grandma make dozens of sandwiches each day.

I miss waking up my older cousins at noon.

I miss sleeping in the bunk bed room.

I miss secretly going onto the deck even though we were too young.

I miss slapping the speed limit sign in front of the neighbors house.

I miss waiting for the sunscreen to dry before entering the water.

I miss walking out to Flag Rock at low tide.

I miss overturning small rocks to find crabs.

I miss popping tons of inflatable tubes.

I miss begging to go back to the house after long days at the beach.

I miss rushing to put everything away before it starts to rain.

I miss playing Racko at the small wooden table.

I miss stealing sodas out of the outside fridge.

I miss knocking down the clothesline everyday.

I miss having to take minute long showers.

I miss Scituate.

Sand nestling itself into my scalp.

Poseidon pulling me into the depths of his sea,

Until I can no longer reach the bottom.

Summersault after summersault,

Water invades my eyes and ears.

Jagged rocks shredding my back.

Arms spasmodically reaching for something to grasp on to,

Nothing accommodates my needs.

My lungs begin to fill with the burning seawater,

Gasping for air when bobbing to the top.

The current draws me back and my strokes are useless,

Until my toes scim the grainy sand.

Using all my strength I clutch the ground,

Inching closer and closer to freedom.

I liberate myself from the spell.

Broken free I make it to the shore,

The ocean wanted to take me.

Watching safety precautions being presented.

Changing the channel on the TV.

Observing the sunset from above the clouds.

Flight attendants pushing carts down the narrow aisle.

Pouring soda into the small plastic cups.

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Fasten seatbelt light turning on and off.

Pushing out of rows to get to the bathroom.

Looking down over cities, lights shining so bright.

Nervous passengers clenching their armrests.

Baby’s screeching while others kick the backs of chairs.

All until we reach the ground again.

Leaving me panicked, my palms begin to sweat

Anxiety takes over my body as the walls begin to cave

Unable to call for help 

Stuck forever where no one can save me

The narrow walls squeeze my body keeping me captive

Repeatedly spinning about in search for an escape

Occupying my mind is taunts and jeers coming from the tight space

Paralyzed with fear I collapse

Helplessly left without breath

Obligated to liberate myself, I get to my feet

Banging ferociously on the invincible walls

Incarcerated by my fears, I am unable to break free from captivity

At once I am subjected to the space room, I couldn’t leave. 

a noose around my waist,

and lowered me into

the darkness. I could taste

my fear. It tasted first

of dark, then earth, then rot.

I swung and struck my head

and at that moment got

another then: then blood,

which spiked my mouth with iron.

Hand over hand, my father

dropped me from then to then:

then water. Then wet fur,

which I hugged to my chest.

I shouted. Daddy hauled

the wet rope. I gagged, and pressed

my neighbor's missing dog

against me. I held its death

and rose up to my father.

Then light. Then hands. Then breath. 

She lowered me down until

I couldn’t taste the fresh air.

I tasted darkness, then cold.

It tasted damp until it went to moss.

I felt a sharp jerk and hit my head.

Then blood, pinched with the faint 

Taste of iron.

I went lower until I tasted water,

Then silver.

I heard the clinking of coins at the bottom.

Last I tasted Saran hair.

I called to my sister 

And was brought back up

I tasted fresh air again

And handed her back the missing doll.