surges and tides
terrible like salt or tears
its wake of foam and fears
suspended in the gelatinous seas
and that’s how you found me –
my skin peeled back
as though we had forever
as though we would be together
as though the sweet pain of newness
would clamp its hot, tender hand over mine
and my skin would smooth over
but after the dream was over you found me –
like water left behind
in one tide pool after another
kelp and brine and
driftwood intertwined
the occasional shell
soft pulp peeled back
and smoother than skin
still craving
the memory of those tides
my empty arms and impervious surge
suspended in my gelatinous nights
Susan Smith Nash