The earth delighted in feeling my bare feet..

Footprints in the sand: I finally found mine!
Along the shore of the Bay of Bengal, Gopalpur in Ganjam district, Odisha. Feb 2012.

When the sky and the sea stared at me together, what did I do? I couldn't look them straight in the eye for as long as I wanted. They were too selfless. Too flawless. Too much at peace with themselves for me to look at them and not wonder at the churning within my self.

With the sand beneath my feet slipping back into the sea, the earth gently nudged me to say that I cannot stand in one place for too long, that it shall all pass. So I simply walked along the shore they'd all made together...

Walking on a beach is therapeutic for me. And for most, I believe. The moist sand makes a certain halo around the foot as I place it on the earth's heart. It even lets me stamp it with my feet. Soft and easy...it's like the earth is celebrating my every step. Well, the sea quickly comes and makes sure that everyone's given a clean slate to discover themselves...each time..as some wandering soul like mine rushes to seek refuge. So those footprints are quickly swept away into nothingness by one gentle wave. 

One day...I'll be able to match nature's stare unflinchingly...feel the sky wrap its arms around me...and stand there long enough to let the sea kiss my feet...and I'll curl my toes to kiss it back, like lovers who've spent aeons apart.