away
from the white noise
of hissing waves
wind and sand
the sunning
Saturday tourists
who wonder
and wander

we step
out of the elements
walk slowly
with adjusting pupils
into the darkness
of the cave

it’s here
that sound
is softened
our feet slowed
and the womb
envelops us
in sweet silence

hush
we are in the belly of the mountain now

for a brief
five minutes
there are no more visitors

just quiet
you and I
both silently imagining
what this cave mouth
must have looked like
before a parking lot
with cars
in primary colors
were the view

when this opening of light
was all
just brightness
to a wild world
the cave
a shelter
of noiseless
muted
peace