Face in Sand

The wind from the ocean blew the sand
into a face
from the mirror in my boyhood.
A broken shell stuck out
from grainy cheeks.
I bent to pluck it out,
to smooth the blemish
of ocean acne
but the water
of intervening years
 came and carved
the face away.
The blemish I put in my pocket
and carried off
to put in a box
and view in the mirror
whenever I like.


R. R. Shea