Upon the Waters

Welts of sunlight lashed his skin into soresof exploding wounds. A hem of water,indigoed harsh, boiled his flesh intofragmented screams.Can I go with ’em, Mom? Can I?Please? Nothing bad will happen. You’llsee.Wakes rounded in unfolding spheres wallowthe imagination into blunt graves vomitingin their encased souls. A scape uncut frombarks of shore terror the brain into thewash of monsters that swallow up from deepbelow.I’ve never gone fishing for marlin. Can Igo with you, Dad?Melted flesh skims the surface, thawingthe sinews that thread the bones. Breath,over toned with desperation and fire, facedthe inward dews of despair.I don’t think he should go. He’s only tenyears old. Something could go wrong.Prayers become soliloquies to deathto take the hold now. To revenge thespirit of will to storm on beyonddefeat’s black triumph that patternsthe tears which brooks the face.Look at the size of that pole! It weighsmore than the fish does. Can I hold it?Time has drowned. Spasms nettle thered flow that torrents the inner stream.Joys to come lament into screams.You can go, but do as your father says. Idon’t want anything to happen to you.Do you understand?The near mirrors the far. The soulcouncils to downstair the flow anddrink from the poisoned goblet thatcaverns the endless floor.

This will be the greatest day of my life!I hope I get a big one!A knife protrudes from the washbringing horror in cascades of bloodthat gulps the eyes.We’ll be back before six so don’t worryabout us.Rows of teeth to fat the beast goresthe hope into rips of life that slopthe pool.Don’t panic. We’ve got to abandon theboat. We have to stick together.A nudge of bluntness. Skin of grey,bellied white, shims the motionof the recumbent.Dad! Dad! Dad!The sky below. The ground above.It’s night now. Where are they?Oblivion stares.We’ll search for them. Don’t worry.A delicate absence dares the mind.We’ll search again tomorrow.Repetition tents hope.We didn’t find them. There’s no sign ofthem anywhere.Water births life in order to replace themany she has slain.Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.