Haenyeo

On the nearby sand, white waves break, and a woman sits leaning to one side. Her body, out of the water, rests a moment on land. Skin, sand, and sea are steeped in the same light.

Had it been freshly painted, the color would have been clearer and lighter. But this color has faded through long exposure to sun and wind. It was one light, yet many times overlapped within it. As deep as the water this woman has crossed.

Depth does not come from growing darker. It comes at last after long endurance and fading.