"The Waves" is a poem by Paul Jaskunas that explores the allure and power of the ocean. The poem depicts a child being lulled to sleep by the rhythmic crashing of waves, while a girl swims away from the shore, oblivious to the boy who desires her. An old man also finds solace in the ocean, reflecting on his love for time as he nears the end of his life. The poem evokes a sense of the passage of time and the vastness of the universe, with the night bringing a sense of emptiness and fate.