The Canute Stratagem

Well, here we are on the rugged
windswept cliffs again. And there’s
the big old ocean. Wow.

It is itself. It is nothing to do with us.
It has autonomy and power big-time.

It was here before h. habilis, before
erectus. It was pounding coasts
before h. sapiens, and will be after.

But there’s one trick we have, us homo saps,
the one Canute got wrong. Find out the time
of the high tide, go down to the beach,

command the ocean to retreat. Do try
to sound as if you mean it. It
will take its time, but will obey.