Betrayal in the Surf

Utter despair, overwhelming
hopelessness
tricked again like Charlie

the dimple in the wet sand
a trick, Like Lucy
pretending to hold the football

walking through surf’s residue
sea foam masking evidence
of a clam

dig, dig fast
dig deep dropping to my knees
digging with my hands, in the cold wet sand

nothing,
no clam
the hole filling with sea-water

the dimple was a trick