The man with a forked tongue
crept along the sand,
wetting his lips like he were a starving soldier lost at sea.
Taking his possessive lies above the surface of his recoiling nonsense,
he kicks back each ebbing wave,
banishing them back to the ocean's roar.

The children he loathes
play in the depths of foam,
screaming that awful name
and telling him to look at their amazing talents.
The man sighed and strode along,
Life was always like this for him.

The regretful moments of his infancy weld together,
like steel clashing harmony between his fingers.
All he could see was his arrogant past jumping the surf,
laughing and shivering as the sun passed away.
The man's beliefs had shriveled up
as time burnt them tart.

Idols used to be Santa Claus,
delightful and humble.
It was sweet to not know true.
Youth harping the singing bliss
that Santa will take care of everyone's presents
and mirth and their wishes.

As the boy grew
he began to look down
rather then up to the myths.
He soon spied Mommy arranging the gifts
around their perfected tower of glitter and glass.
A tender smirk on her face
as daddy eats the cookies.
It's peace to believe lies.

The spiteful man comes across a pointed pearl-plum.
He stares down at beauty,
his hands shoved unconfidently in his pockets.
The water splashes joyfully
as his children rush to shore.
Dancing around the shell
at their father's feet.

'I bet you could hear the ocean in that.'�
'Let me listen'�
'I hear it!'�

The sad man smiled dissonantly.
His mixed jar eyes glinting with satisfaction
as he watched his gleeful offspring.
Only he knows the conch they're holding
is playing a trick on their ears.
The man grinned and spread his sticky lips,

'Why it's the water whispering to you, dear,
humming an endless lullaby for the babies of the deep.
There there are sunken ships full of gold and jewels,
mermaids swimming like ballerinas,
and fish the size of whales.'�

The children sparkled with wonder
as the tune echoed in their ears.
Life was always like this for the man.

Want to comment on this Poetry? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Poetry and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...