the coast

by Sarah Phillips

Atop a dune and drunken grasses 

Lazy sway fingered in slow circles 

Indulgent golden earth stretched beneath my soles 

From my perch a muted battleground 

Even gods shot down discover contentment here  

Perhaps I should have known

That the land, hot oppressive sky

Would be too much for everyone

With their bodies bared to the bright summer 

Slow collapse sunny striped anarchy 

There they were, spread at the edge of the sea

Out to beyond the proud horizon immune to time

Bodies laid out and baking 

As I watched I knew

That the horrible heat was

Sinking through skins, bleeding into cuticles sockets and cavities

To pulse like a disease this evening

Drifting off in bed, but a snake descends

Tender and red against the sheets hissing 

Drunk on sunlight 

Too hot to breathe or feel final quiet 

As I turn back, I know

I will die in cold black water

Far from that horrible heat 

Sarah Phillips is a rising senior at Conestoga High School.  She is passionate about exploring the interactions between the natural and social sciences, and is especially fascinated by the relationship between neuroscience and psychology; it is one of her favorite hobbies to pursue those interests through writing.  She has also published her creative writing in Teen Ink.