You’ll need a shawl on the beach tonight
as well as a worthy captain
waning moons break hearts
while those that wax bring nothing
but hope
we grow larger each step
in surf too warm
in light too bright
to be real
we bring
so much of our self
to it
the world doesn’t
work this way
or maybe
it just works so
footsteps
in relief
well before washing
away
© Chagall, 2013
Alphabet City 
It’s possibly unkind to suggest such a thing, but I stumble at the word ‘right’, and offer ‘well’
I like it! So often I’ve wanted to suggest as you have. So here’s the original line, for posterity’s sake (otherwise other commentators will have no reference):
footsteps
in relief
right before washing
away
I will take you up on your suggestion in the spirit of the village. See post for the new, improved version.
—–Chagall