Cayucas Pier
The cool of morning bites.
The water has no name.
Four children kneel in the sand,
busy with purpose.
I want to kneel with them.
The smallest, just barely able
to walk, gets up and waddles
to the bright green slide.
Oh, to be there again, secure
in knowing what I really want
right now.
Beate Sigriddaughter, www.sigriddaughter.net, grew up in Nürnberg, Germany, and lives in Silver City, New Mexico (Land of Enchantment), where she has served as poet laureate. Recent book publications include a short story collection They Didn't Know What to Say (2026) and poetry collections Circus Dancer (2025) and Wild Flowers (2022).
See more of Beate's work in 13.4 and 12.4 and 12.1 and 12.1