coral girl sitting on the edge of a cliff
hair slowly shedding, nails ripped away
lines mapping a birdlike face, thinned and yellow
papyrus
we push, you pull
a playground tug of war
or are we soldiers, blocking the charge
riot shield stopping the longest fall
to swim the depths below, every stroke a new bloom of pain
salty iron filling your mouth
but the coral is all around you, high and proud
to drown on a raft, eyes wide and sightless
shackles wrapping your throat, pinning your arms
wood rotting below and slowly turning to pulp
to sink quietly down down down
the lap of water filling your ears with a quiet hum
you lose track of time and place; all you feel is warmth
coral girl sitting on the edge of a cliff
will you swim? will you gasp? will you sleep?
will you fly?