The Lifeguard Chair

The sun makes its way

up the ladder, perching

itself over the dunes, to sit

and ignore its many spectators,

unbothered by their admiration.

I myself fell into this category

for some time. But that was

many years ago. I've seen it

too many times since to hold

it in the same regard. Maybe

that's how it feels about us.

I start this day like many

before, with sand between my

toes, a towel draped over my

shoulder, a whistle hanging from

my neck, pulling me towards the

ground with the weight of 1,000

tons, holding me firmly in place.

Digging myself a hole has

become all too normal.

I come upon the chair, cast

in its great shadow. Looking

up, I can't make out where it

ends, where my seat kisses the

sky. All I know is that is where

I must be before the day's first

swimmer embarks upon the tides.

The climb is to be long and

fantastical. Its best not to

delay it much longer. I leave

my feet and start the journey,

clinging on, never looking down,

fore I may fear the challenge in

my path and rethink my line of work

altogether.