Tectonic Drift
Before the airport we swam in the Blue Lagoon.
At first you demurred, suddenly nervous,
insisted on coffee, sat peering out
at smoke rising from a pool
the thin blue of skimmed milk,
October sleet needling down.
In the end I led the way,
pointed out the men’s door.
Outside, frosted air goosed bare skin
as I lowered into amniotic warmth,
waters pumped from the earth’s deep womb,
waded over mineral-fuzzed lava
to where you floated.
I wanted to say, Come back, smile like you used to,
I’m afraid the spring will snap, catapult us off,
two comets fading out in a stream of sparks.
Even the hotel had had separate duvets.
I reached my arm
but mist curling up dissolved your face,
veiled mine. You didn’t see words form,
misunderstood, launched out in a clumsy crawl.
I lurched behind and we swam together, drowning.
Page(s) 33
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