In the summers we were split up
My brother and I would go to my father’s parents
My stepbrother and stepsister
Would go to their mother’s mother
My dad and step mother would travel together
As if they had no children
My brother and I would spend our summers
In the Algarve
In hindsight those were happy times
My grandparents rented a small house there
Every day was the same except for Sundays
We would eat breakfast and go to the beach
The waves were strong at times
We would body surf in the salt water
Sometimes we could travel far on a wave
Maybe 30 meters or more
Using our arms and legs as fins
The ocean water burned our eyes
Sometimes I would drink water in gulps
If I got caught in the undertow
It purified us
I can still feel the water streaming down me
As I left the ocean
The wind drying me off
Beneath the blazing sun
This too was a baptism
It was like tasting the kiss
Of God
-Telmo dos Santos
Hello, my name is Telmo dos Santos. I am a writer and poet based out of Calgary, Alberta. I draw inspiration from my natural environment, memories, dreams, and inner thoughts for my poems. I am active in the local poetry scene and am currently writing a book of poems about dogs. Thank you for considering my poem.
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