Sea Creature Comforts

Beneath my head, your chest expands and falls,

It pulls me in and pushes me out—my tide,

So steady; brutal; vast;

With you, in sync, I sink.

Your freezing water washes me of sin;

All thoughts pushed out in numbing peace.

Your fingers brush my arm,

Cold ripples on my skin.

My lips will part for you to cleanse my lungs.

No noise escapes, just breathless bubbles to

My pillow’s heartfelt beat:

Da-dum, da-dum, da-dum.

Beneath these sheets, I am reduced to body,

Kept adrift in your body of water.

Keep me floating in your expanse;

Keep my feet from touching ground.

As I curl tighter in the cave of your side,

Your ribs a reef containing my heart—

The clock in the hall chimes.

Unwanted anchor, earthbound.

And I remember that the sun will rise.

Black will fade to blue, fade to pink, fade to yellow,

And there will be light,

And it will pierce.

But please, for now, let’s stay here as one body;

Legs, four; arms, four; heads, two; lungs, none; soul, one.

No thinking, breathing, chiming,

Sleep, and let it consume.

As we float toward the solar-shimmered surface.

You’ll leave me your eternal body to cling to;

Let me freeze within your sea,

Before the sun can burn me first.