Footprints

September 17footprints,sand,writing,gulfport

I am thankful for footprints. Footprints show us where we've been and point to where we are going. They are sort of a history of our lives up to the point where we are, show how we've gotten there, and give an indication of the direction we will take. Of course, most footprints are not permanent, so we can change things if we like.

Although, I am not a hunter, footprints can be used to track animals during the hunt. They can also be used in forensic investigations and can give clues to the perpetrator or as clues for the investigation of a crime. Also, they can give an archeological history of ancient times. When footprints are mentioned I think of the Footprints poem in which someone asks God why his footprints are not in the sand along with him and God answers it's because God was carrying him through those tough times.

The photo is one I took at Gulfport beach. I found this writing and a single footprint. At the time I took the photo I thought it said "mo" but in studying it more, I believe what I thought was an "o" was actually a "Q" that I had read upside down. So part of the word was actually "Qui." The rest was washed away so I couldn't tell. Maybe it was Quiet, Quit, Quick, or who knows what. I considered rotating the photo 180 degrees to give the proper orientation, however I like the footprint the way it is, so I opted to keep this version of the photo.

footprints

footprints disappear behind

a showing from where they once came

many more will pass into the distance

going forward but much the same

the sand upon which they are etched

will be washed away one day

but history was made whether by crook or trade

though the impressions don’t stay.

© rt tulley