Haunted Regrets

I placed the wind chimes with a lantern, on the hook, by his grave

being alone in the darkness always made him afraid

On his tombstone, a postcard, we had saved from that day

we built sandcastles and motes on the beach where we played

The last thing I remember, the deafening screams of the sirens

the awful discovery when we located my son

Face down in the shallows, a starfish in his hand

surrounded by seaweed and submerged in the sand

I'll never forget or forgive that moment looking away

or the fear in his voice as he was pulled down by the waves

So here I will stay on this bench by his side

begging for mercy and the changing of tides