“Awakening”

Sharing some thoughts that came to me on a windy beach, on a difficult day, after the funeral of NYPD hero Dennis Guerra.

“Awakening”

Ferocious winds

Wake the ocean from its sleep

Waves

Rolling, roaring, fierce

Brisk, bright and clear

White morning gulls

Struggle against the blowing

My past memories

My future hopes

Merge in the turbulence of this moment

Pull me from my present

My stillness

My silence

I cherish my stillness

I am renewed in my sleep

And yet thrive on the noise

Let each awaken me

Joe Fox

April 21, 2026

(Edited from original version April 14, 2014 after the funeral of NYPD hero Dennis Guerra)