Sandra Martyres - Windswept

Her long tresses tossed in the air
Gave her a rather unkempt look
As she raced across the sands
In a daring attempt to challenge
The elements irrespective of
How strong they appeared
To the less adventuresome

Passers by clinging to each other
To avoid being blown away
By the treacherous winds
Stared in amazement at
The diminutive figure as she
Appeared to be racing against time
Defying the strong northerly winds

The seashore wore a deserted look
Apart from a few stragglers
Trudging along cautiously
But that did not deter the young lady
She continued with what looked like
A suicidal mission as the dark clouds
And huge waves made their appearance

When night fell she was less visible
The life guards were called in quickly
To make sure that she was not drowning
Huge flash lights and police cars
Appeared on the shore to confirm
That the young woman was still alive
But she seemed to have vanished

The rescue team opined that even
If she were drawn into the waters
The incoming tides would have returned
Her alive or dead to the seashore
In the distance they spotted an elderly man
Dressed in a well worn leather jacket
Sitting on a cliff smoking a pipe

The life guards rushed towards him
Hoping that he may have noticed her
But he merely raised his wrinkled face
To announce that their rescue operation
Had come twenty years too late
His daughter who had been swept away
By the seas usually visited him on a windy day

Sandra Martyres

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/windswept-2/