inhale (my heart)

Inspired by the phrase‘The sniff of green leaves and dry leaves, and of the shore’ taken from ‘Song of Myself (Leaves of Grass)’ by Walt Whitman. This now comprises a part of The Linkages Project

I strode the sands
once
of the chelsea
shoreline

walked
through the wavelets
on hampton beach

and where I strode
I raised
the salt flecks
in froth
and in the bubbles

to splash
on the shoreline
for me
it was
sublime

but in my heart
I retain
the leaves

the smell of eucalyptus
both dry
and green

I am overwhelmed
by their aroma
when walking
through forest

and I believe
that is where
my heart
resides

so I hold
the memories
of salt
inside me

all those times
of white spray
to recall

but I run my feet
through the leaves
at the base
of the woodland

crush
a green leaf

my heart