you
water-spirit
possessed once
stand between
deluge
&
grounding
brain treads
a jagged path
path paved
in the form of a question
path fashioned in
backwater
riverine
& swamp
you
crack smooth stones against an open slap
carve hollow refuge under creek beds
hold back the dam
save the little
girl
who knots white clovers
into a life raft then sinks
what is your response?
memory
cracks you
little dove
sent to scour whatever earth water’s rage left
behind you
(dressed in white
feathers) dissolve the wet wind
cobble stones in your mouth—eye
this remnant land of haunts
you no longer
gray matter
now formidable sea
& the sea turns on itself, cracks the coveted
scales, bait & hook, leaves bones for the hungry
slides its rough back against home
beats against the dark edge of water-dreams | insists you are
drowning
sea | you drown
sea | you open your stormed mouth
sea | you elongate the wet tongue
& swallow
till all is swallowed
till all is
sea upon sea becoming sea
