Pillow pressed to my ear like a shell,
my tenacious heart squeezes tight, on cue,
motors in continuous tongue-tied waves ―
every second, a dark vein-laced flop.
Incarcerated blue private hell,
oceanic in my chest. A conch cave
too hot and claustrophobic to find sleep ―
sea legs tangled mermaid-style in the sheets.

I turn my head, let the sound of the night
bed away scaled mortality, listen
landlocked ― the ticking clock, my love breathing
so gently ― intent on the infinite
notion that everything will be the same ―
or possibly even more than today.

tk/October 2015

Splendid read by R.A.D. Stainforth…