Waving good-bye

Waves unwind, like a woman falling into

the recesses that memory reminds.

She was too afraid but to creep out to the edge

and let the water trickle at her toes,

no more than wet the bottoms of her feet,

sinking soft and supple into moistened sand-

the grainy truths that rub calluses smooth.

During a daylight dim like dust, she stood,

watching froth around her ankles grow

like kelp collecting now between her toes.

And water rushing, the way that passion throws-

a peristalsis, she takes all of it in and drinks it down

ease out a bit today, and ease with it the fear,

tomorrow swim.