by Daniel Valdez

On a sun-striped beach,
waves hit the bank,
making their harmonius music.
Lasting chords of concord
the presence of serenity,
seagulls sang tunes in the distance
while the creatures of the sea quietly listened below.

I felt the sand beneath my world
walking on a trace of infinite dust,
a cushion of lost and wondering clouds.
The sea breeze blew softly,
holding my cheeks lightly,
I soar away with them into
the sky, a golden feast
of Apollo's magic and strength.

The ocean was a blur of sun
rapid movements of hushed furies.
That is when I spotted it,
a reddish-pink frozen shower of color
curves and contours of perfection:
the seashell, a product of my beloved sea,
always reminding me
of time well-spent on the beach.

Congratulations to Daniel. He was a runner-up in Writing magazine's Treasured Objects Contest. Students wrote about their favorite things in such insightful and powerful ways. Check back for the next two weeks to see more runners-up.