NAKED TO THE COLD SEA by Peter Nolan Smith

In the early 70s
We stood on Nauset's nude beach
Che and me
The two of us
Hippies not yet punks.
A thick ledge of wet seaweed
Covered the high tide mark.
Off with our clothes
We lay on the cool green algae
Our bare bodies sinking beneath the sludge
Comforted by the endless ocean
The two us silent
Seagulls squatted at the high tide mark
Never within arm's reach
We stand as one
Naked to the elements
Wiping the seaweed
Off each other
Free
We both laugh
Skin blue-green as the cold Atlantic
Eyes meet
Understand
We all come from the sea
The two of us run into the ocean
Water
Embraced by Neptune
Cold as ice
Clean as ice
Forever young for now
Hippies not yet punks
1972