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Desperate to chase ebbing tide
her leashed dog pulls her down
stone beach to the water’s edge
His tongue drags exhausted;
his neck lurches and despite his limp,
his whole body strains to tow her
to the rocky shore where he falls
down onto cool granite pebbles
and begins his long awaited salt bath,
waves massaging aching muscles
that tighten with each gasp,
All but fracturing his fourteen-year-old bones

Witnessing a miracle
playing children abandon
bright orange and yellow pails
let drop lime green sand shovels
gather around soaking dog
and begin anointing him
with handfuls of salt water
squealing with glee
as he rises, running
heeled from the faithful throng 

By Elizabeth Cleary

Note: “Salt Bath at Stony Creek” was published in Caduceus 8, the Poets at Art Place 2010, a book of poems from Yale School of Medicine faculty, staff and patients, as well as nationally and locally recognized poets.