With Kit, Age 7, at the Beach We would climb the highest dune, from there to gaze and come down: the ocean was performing; we contributed our climb.
Waves leapfrogged and came straight out of the storm.
What should our gaze mean?
Kit waited for me to decide.
Standing on such a hill, what would you tell your child?
That was an absolute vista.
Those waves raced far, and cold.
“How far could you swim, Daddy, in such a storm?”
“As far as was needed,” I said, and as I talked, I swam.
The ~ This Life – William Stafford
