for

it was the most unusual thing
a clump of choral on a florida beach
with ribbons of gold wrapped around it
or, something gold-like
but, i found it
so, it was mine.

there was a boy who i had met
on the beach
he was as young as i was
i showed him this amazing object
and we wondered if it was real

he said that he would go up
and ask his father
who was a scientist
and then he would bring it back
and let me know
so with all the trust
of an eight year old boy
i let it go.

although i've come back
to that exact spot on the beach
a million times in my mind
i never saw that boy
or that treasure again

i often wonder about that day
i don't even know if it was real gold
but it gleams in my memory
as something i lost
and represents everything
i am looking for