Salt Water

He crawled out of a hole in the ocean

dragging me behind him

he laid me on the shore

a wheezing bag of cornered bones and sinew

 

he coaxed me on to my side and pounded

and pounded my back

a blessed pain

until water as salty fire poured from me

steaming, as it melted into the sand

remnants of myself to be left behind

 

I wonder if it was mentioned that evening

over dinner

in the pub

how he saved a man

I wonder if he thinks of it now

as I still do when the sky is low

 

I wish that just once

he could see the sunshine pouring from her

warming us on autumn days