Watching the sun go down

Nearly sunset at the beach
Scattered families enjoying the evening
Father teaching daughter how to ride her bike
Young family collecting ocean polished stones
And many cars parked facing the water, facing the decending sun
Tonight will not be the most spectacular sunset
Too few clouds
But still people have gathered for the event
One couple has snacks, chips and soda, to munch
While viewing the sunset like a drive-in movie
There is a Asian woman with dark sunglass watching alone
And many more have gathered
I wonder how many are regulars, addicted to the color-splashed sky and sound of surf
As the sun dips below the horizon, I watch them watching
An older couple drives off before the final sliver of sun is gone
As if the sight is too sad to watch
And then it is gone
More people drive away
Others stay, talking, walking, throwing rocks into the water
I think, what an odd thing to drive here to watch the sunset with TV and movies and books
And I also think, what a great thing to gather here and watch the sunset, a ceremony to our ancestors who gathered, a ritual to reinforce our connection to sky and earth, sun and moon, air and sea


Note: Although I live on the East Coast, there are beaches on Long Island Sound where the shore faces west