The Sea and the Shore

Said the sea to the shore when the evening tide came in
I am here to tell you tales of where I’ve been
Into shells I’ve whispered my love songs in secret rhyme
And left them at your door for you to find
I’ve tempered the force of my waves when your gods would roar
And took care of the ships full of men you sent off to war
I have longed for you for so long, said the sea to the shore

Said the shore to the sea, you left me here so long
I was promised to the moon while you were gone
He waited here until the brightest night
To demand my hand under his fullest light
And promised he’d always be there to watch over me
Oh, why did you wait ‘til now, said the shore to the sea

Said the sea to the shore, I swore that I’d return
And here I am with all that I have learned
I can hold you now with arms of foam and spray
Touching you at the coming of dusk and the breaking of day
Smoothing out the folds on every stone
Oh, please, don’t say you'll leave me here alone

Said the shore to the sea, you’ve said all these things before
And I tell you, I can’t hear them anymore
There was a time once I’d have given in
I’d hear your savage whitecaps rolling in
Your troughs would come up slow beneath my chin
Your mist would kiss me softly on my skin
Leaving salty trails where you had been
My legs would give out in your undertow
Oh, but sea, that was a long, long time ago

So, the sea took one last look and turned away
And the shore was more than strong enough to stay
And castles melted back into the sand
Driftwood drifted up onto the land
Rocks rose up proud in shiny skin
And shells began their gossiping again