I was born on the sand
Amidst towering dunes I couldn’t hope to climb
Though I tried for a while
Tried to build my castle and convince myself all was as it was meant to be

Until one day a wave washed over me
The cold water sent shivers of excitement through my body
I left behind what I knew and dove into the waves
For a moment, I felt at home
I didn’t miss the grittiness between my toes
But I quickly found myself running out of air
The ocean wasn’t for me, either

I returned to shore
And collapsed in the wet sand
I had but a moment to rest before I found myself assaulted
Wave after wave crashed over me
The sand coated my skin
There was no escape for me

I live on the shore, where the waves meet the land
But people see only what they want to see
They notice only my wet hair, or my sandy feet
Then decide where I belong

I don’t care for the grit of the sand or the tug of the sea
I long to float, to fly up and away
Free from the binary brine of the beach
Maybe someday a breeze will lift all of us up
We’ll land in the clouds and finally be free