No silence

rain pelted against
the glass of windows
holding at bay
the wind that whipped
up from the ocean,
screens rattled in tracks
pulled and pushed by
air seemingly unsure
of its direction or purpose,
the tide moved out
dragging gritty, black sand,
ivory and cobalt-blue shells
emptied of their owner
tumbled to chase the froth,
kelp and sticks tangled
in the swirl of dark liquid
all jockeying for position
in the undertow.
beyond the reach
or calming
of a smoothing hand,
this tempest raged
lashing at cliffs
cutting away at the base
taking and leaving
all in the same wave wash.
i waited
but the silence never came.