PARIS APRIL 1ST, 1922 A mile of clean sand. I will write my name here, and the trouble that is in my heart. I will write the date & place of my birth, What I was to be, And what I am. I will write my forty sins, my thousand follies, My four unspeakable acts.… I will write the names of the cities I have fled from, The names of the men & women I have wronged. I will write the holy name of her I serve, And how I serve her ill. And I will sit on the beach & let the tide come in. I will watch with peace the great calm tongue of the tide Licking from the sand the unclean story of my heart. … Allan
On April 1st, 1922, in Paris, an individual reflects on a mile of clean sand as a canvas for their thoughts. They consider writing their name along with the burdens of their heart, documenting the date and the expectations versus reality of their life. The intent is to list personal failures and the relationships that have caused harm, alongside their devotion to a beloved figure and their shortcomings in this service.
As the tide washes over the sand, they find solace in the process of letting go of their troubles. This ritual acts as a cleansing mechanism, allowing the individual to release their sorrow and guilt into the ocean, symbolized by the tide that erases their unclean narrative, fostering a sense of peace in the act of self-reflection.
