My soul was soothed
By a scene of a family,
Men and women with hats on
Playing cards by the sea—
Perhaps Uncle Martin did not want to be there;
Maybe Aunt Grace hates her job, Martin, and life.
But this was no concern of mine,
This strife.
All seemed so happy there!
With two children playing in the green water:
Their freckled son,
Their dimpled daughter.
How I longed to be them:
Forever on the land.
Forever by the water.