Once upon a time,

in a willowy fluffering ripple

i was a sandpiper 

feathering and nestling 

and whistling 

in the heart of an icy fig 

under a cool clear sky

where seaweeds and assorted leftovers 

found  sands, 

hand prints, and a small child’s pail, a pair of flip flops growing white as a beached whale’s tail

tucking themselves into scattery dunes, somewhere there

where nests are 

nets 

strewn with popcorn

and the glass eyed moon tick tocks

and waves and everyone

 sits around taking tea

and thyme