Text
I waded into the Mediterranean–
she smelled sweet, of ripe green melon,
filled my mouth with the taste of salt
freshly tongued from behind a lover’s ear.
She embraced me and told me I need do nothing but give in.
She would take care of me, hold me aloft,
promised to toss me around like girls ask me to do to them.
I could be a small, breathing thing floating in the jetsam for once,
pressed between her and the sky.
I watched the supple curves of storm roll in
and understood how she fell in love.
The cloudbellies turned blue and swollen
and I saw lightning strike her twice, three times,
the low timbre in the voice of thunder sending her into fits of passion.
I wonder what sweet things they whispered to her.
I do not speak their shared language,
but can feel it reverberate through my bones.
As I left her water streamed down me as my own tears.
She touched my fingertips, soft and gentle,
licked at my toes, rushed up to pull at me,
to bury me where I stood.
I felt the crackle of electricity breathe hot
through the fine hairs at the back of my neck
and the first warm drop of rain kiss my drying cheek.