i imagine the whales, the tall slick
of them; where lichen sucker and
chew bone-white carcass, these
live rarities dance in spiral under
crystalline waves. beige islands
beget seabirds, curiosity. i have
my fish messily eaten, a damage,
i have my own teeth picking out
spears. man fears meat. fears fear.
he told me solemn-eyed, rousing
truth from tip of toe, he brought
me fishbones, he brought me a
liar. never surrender. i feel brave
for this. stopped in my slipstream;
a maws’ beginning. when the
mammal comes above the yellow
waterline, i take my whole life
certainly. i make a new decision.
