a gentle stream of water 

past the bay into the basin 

sweet persistent “shh, shh” 

from the river above 

into the vast ocean 

down below 

​

it flows 

moving and continuous 

as my mind swims too 

moving and continuous as 

the feelings ebb and flow 

​

you’d like this 

would say i have lovely 

language                       oh how i love it 

     you’re too humble you’re 

and i would shush you gentle

to change the subject and 

call you baby to placate the 

ebb and flow of my heart 

​

sweet persistent “shh, shh” 

not unlike my heart when i’m 

under you                     i know what you can do

      i know you 

and yours is persistent too 

and a gentle stream of affection flows 

from you above to me down below 

​

something wells up from deep within 

it’s unfamiliar we both don’t know it 

but we let it happen it happens we 

can salvage this we can make it work 

let’s just come back to this tomorrow 

but the day stretches long until it is not 

today but tomorrow 

​

the ocean grows 

but i have never seen water like this 

it is salty                         oh god why is it salty 

and i am choking and my eyes burn and

i reach out for you but the ocean 

beats me back and the streaming turns to 

a roar                             please don’t go i need you don’t 

​

washed up 

stranded scorched by the sun      who 

are you 

the light is new                            when’s the 

last time i’ve seen you 

and the thought 

reminds me of you so i move but you’re 

nowhere to be found                   oh you where are you

there’s nothing to flow nothing moving and 

continuous it’s so haunting and i’m still here 

you where are you who 

​

the sand cuts deep and i miss the 

sweet persistent “shh, shh” of        you 

and the feeling of being under you i’ve lost 

you and i can’t get you back 

you’ve been washed away and i’ve 

washed up                                  you get up and i am

         no longer under you this is new 

​

the water returns this is 

ocean water it flows from up down 

trailing my cheeks it is                new 

it is 

the continuous                             not ebb but 

flow of 

​

salt water 

not water