Because
Once under the heat of the hot summer beach sun
I took to soft sand by where it meets splashing sea
A quiet route for my routine solo ten mile run
But heat and grain soon made by tired body plea
I wondered if I should go on or just turn back
To the hotel across the sizzling span crosswise
The vain me supposed I could keep moving on track
But my old tired body convinced me otherwise
So I paused, surveyed the beach line past all the guests
And spotted a deserted row of lounge chairs
The type– white slatted with adjustable backrests
That could face which way that best suited one’s affairs
I lumbered over and reached the chair by row’s end
I looked at sea, then land and flipped back the backrest
So it faced the hotel ‘stead, that i’d see my friend
When she looks for me– though my thought was half in jest
Not long after I laid down a stranger stopped by
Noticed my odd position and asked the reason
His tone professorial, I had to answer why
He shrugged, smiled, and thanked me for the insightful lesson
So he, too, flipped his backrest to face the lodging
A third man soon came, looked, and asked the same question
My new friend answered, and without further prodding
The man did the same and joined us in concession
Soon enough, a fourth came over and without asking
Flipped his so that he’d end up facing the same way
A couple more did the same thing before basking
But neither thought to question the rather odd play
Soon I felt nature’s calling, annoyingly so
From chair’s comfort, I took leave for my hotel suite
An hour passed, with the sun good for half day to go
I returned to complete my tan in scorching treat
I looked at the blank faces, unfamiliar all
But familiar in that they faced the way I did
The two empty chairs at the far end seemed to call
I sauntered to and laid in one to do my bid
It had its backrest then facing the right way
But the last one at row’s end faced the water though
By and by a young man came to join the array
His eyes essayed in silence the length of the row
With nary a word nor smile, he flipped the backrest
And without so much a glance or greeting to me
Took to chair and laid down, eyes closed, arms by his chest
I was torn between asking and letting things be
But my curiosity, well, I couldn’t arrest
So I leaned into him, and after a short pause
I asked nonchalantly, “Why?” without contained zest
He looked at me, at the row, shrugged, and said, “Because.”
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