Murky Water

The seaside eagles call out to me,

white on white, grey on black,

against the torrent thunderous sky,

and I lay there on the beach.

A strange sense of calm overwhelms me,

the white waters of the sea turn dark,

dark and murky, murky like dirt.

Muddy water washes my toes

They turn black.

The sand stretches beyond the waves,

grey like the sky,

scratching at my wounds and salt laps my blood,

I curl my legs in. I am calm, I am free.

Wind blows sand in my eyes. It doesn’t hurt.

II

I am calm, I am free.

The sky cackles and spits rain,

Torrents of waves catch on—the water turns white.

I breathe a sigh of relief—

lifting my baptized body, I return home.