Alewives roll like wavering leaves within the net
beside the stone wharf. Clouds, dappled horses,
careening into rocks. Thoughts scattered pebbles
dropped on the bottom. Feel the cool push,
errant waves brush your cheek, blind fish nibble
from the belly of your hand. Forget the silent
grubs and fat banana slugs of land.

Harbor seals dip and bow. Tides heave
in, circle, lift brown mud, dark layers,
jostle things unbidden. River shards
keen syllables of light, bright wavering knuckles,
loosen the grip of bone and gristle.

Minnows, trembling glissandos, shift past.
Night-herons, demon birds of shore, stand
on waited wings. Only now you know the
pull of hair. Crawl of crustaceans.
Quiet shifting of caddis fly and leech.

Renounce the square things ' walls of wood,
sharp stud of nail and spike. Embrace the
tongue of liquid life, the eelpout's
undulating form. Drop down into the
velvet sea worms pouch. Drift
with mackerel, stickleback, and trout.

Xiphoid shadows flicker. Know
yaw and lurch. Shift and settle.
Zoogenic shudder, ripple, wave.

Want to comment on this Poetry? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Poetry and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...