Hey, Guy At the Coast

Hey older guy at the coast
near San Simeon
 
As you were watching molting elephant seals
throw sand on themselves with their flippers,
As you marveled at them propelling their multi-ton bodies,
across expanses of sand
As you listened to their blorpy,  
bad plumbing sounds
amidst the primordial lull of the Pacific Ocean,
 
you heard another sound.
 
You heard my elderly mother
say she felt a bit dizzy
You saw her partner
hold her steady
You took in her daughter
rushing to her other side
 
and within a whirlwind of seconds,  
you said 
"How can I help? 
I want to help."
 
I knew you did.
but,
thank goodness,
 Mom rebounded quickly
 
As we walked away,
I turned toward you
I wanted to share something with you
so I told you she's 88
 
"She looks great!" you said
as does everyone who meets her
 
As I thanked you,
I took you in:
your average height
your stocky build
your gray hair
your beard 
and mainly,
your kind eyes
 
And I knew so much about your soul
 
Yet I knew nothing practical about you at all
 
I wanted my brain to text yours
to deliver an effortless, instant 
likely useless
(but possibly not) message
 
I love your kindness
You're the kind of man I want
We could be happy together
Call me
 
Hey guy at the coast
 
In a better world,
one less cruel,
one less awkward,
one less random,
you would have received my message
 
and later
 
we would watch elephant seals
throw sand on themselves with their flippers
We'd laugh 
at their ridiculous sounds,
mingling with the lull  
of the mighty Pacific
 
And we'd marvel
separately
or perhaps together
at how the message I'd sent
was life changing
 
We would marvel
at how very happy  
we are