Lucy Alexander #18 Coral Reef

she swam out into it

–  there where she was always sure she should have been

the fish recognised her and

smiled by turning sideways

I followed with my throat

full of fear

the water was deep

we were intruding on the seabed

all the glistening light

the blueness of it

the magnified brim of the sea

licking our bodies

she swam out into it

it was in these arms

she had always been held

and me with my mother’s hesitation

just a breath behind her

wanting her to float and be friends with the

coral and clams

but not to swim quite so deep…

she swam out into it

a native of reef

her body a fearless

strong float strung up

the sea tasted of tears and

was so achingly familiar

like a thing I knew

from so long ago we had all lost count

my poor tight fists

holding nothing but water

my chest a cavern of love

if there was just this

I would watch her swim

and never lose her to the deep