People who live by the sea br understand eternity. br They copy the curves of the waves, br their hearts beat with the tides, br & the saltiness of their blood br corresponds with the sea. br br They know that the house of flesh br is only a sandcastle br built on the shore, br that skin breaks br under the waves br like sand under the soles br of the first walker on the beach br when the tide recedes. br br Each of us walks there once, br watching the bubbles br rise up through the sand br like ascending souls, br tracing the line of the foam, br drawing our index fingers br along the horizon br pointing home.