You can’t walk on the beach
on this island in the middle of
the sea without tripping over love.

Between LOVE spelled out in
driftwood on one beach and big ol’
ALOHA on another, it’s just

lovelovelove, which is, you decide,
the universe’s way of nudging you
to get the message as it strews

heart-shaped, wave-sanded pieces
of once-living sea invertebrates
at your feet. Because love really

is everywhere if you just have
eyes to perceive it. Right there,
on surf-smoothed sand,

see that big ol’ coral heart?
Pick it up, why don’t you?
Carry it with you for a time,

study its peculiarities,
its funny divots and quirky
bumps, then quietly leave it

for someone else to find.
You can walk away from love,
but baby, it’ll find you again.

You bring it with you entering
this life; it’s what you leave
behind as you depart.

Just as the waves never stop,
your essence never evaporates.
All that’s left is the love.