help
i'm being held

the way the waves rock the distant boat
barely jutting over the forces

save me
from myself

always has more to do
with me than you

though you are the tide that spins me
the prayer that brings forth the chant
the reply that beaches

move a leg lazily wide away while you sleep
when i touch it     when my fingers follow up
when i turn you full over     when i press against you

naked for so many hours reading each spot

you say fresh things in your silence
and inertia you say i will not speak
to be full afloat as you enter
and rock against me     a selfish thing
as was your lift of my hips against your groin

I will be old and won't feel
the room or your toe or the spray

i want
you say
to navigate the fury
without needing to speak

is my silence not enough
to say i enter into you
as you come into me?

without sound call
me to move by not moving
within movement

but later, my love:
do you admit, as i do
wailing alone

help
i'm being held

in the absent storm
the waves are clear
to distant bottom

full afloat     a selfish thing
the way the way the waves the waves
rock the distant rock the distant forces forces

the way we see through dry weather
back to it present in the air
before it begins
dry weather before
and after
it begins