You Walked Past Me On The Beach

Happenchance

Striding purposefully, you passed me with a smile — your life and heart in place and safe “Hi” I said, unaware I knew your future unaware it was you who would lose the bunch of keys I later found lying forlorn and spread upon the devouring sands — keys which sealed the locks to the compartments of your every life.

At ease, I witnessed the shades of shifting panic and released relief that crossed your face that morning after your blissful stroll along the beach bypassed a woeful mess.

You gratefully took and clutched the keys pressing them to your heart, thankful you were spared the need to beg your husband to drive those extra miles across the land to deliver you the spares — a request which might have burdened an otherwise good marriage you smiled offering to buy me a coffee at the beach bar where I had sat patiently waiting with your keys watching out for faces of distress until I glimpsed it in yours.

This is a story of an encounter I had on my holidays last month on beautiful Achill Island.

And this a poem I wrote about my stay there.