The beach is a balance oscillating
in the sunlight, it is a see-saw
  our town gleams on.
From our island, we watch its tin roofs
disappear among the layers of clouds . . .

The beach is a telescope
we lay on its side, it is a column
blocking our path.
Its Corinthian capital swells out at us—
  a lizard’s throat
marbled in a circle of acanthus.