The Ocean Cannot Greet You

The ocean cannot greet you more gently
because you have never seen it.
It does not know you come from inland
and are only young.
It is up to you to bite its waves
and test its cold and salt.
Shake its seaweed like your prey
run here and there; defy, deny, ignore it
till you can decide
if you can treat this ocean like your playground
or must bark without effect against
its heedless, ancient roar.

April 14 2011