Tide Pool (1991)

O restlessly, O silently the night creeps in
upon me.
O restlessly, O silently my love slips out away
from me.
It is hot here.
Air conditioners struggle like fat burglars
through windows.
The air is listless, my love is listless.
It is hot here.
In the night all things are created equal.
In the night all people are buried equal.
Your skin is hot and I am tired of it.
Tired of the heat, tired of the trees.
Tired of seeing the sea rising, breaking
and nothing to show for it.
It is hot here.

Hot here and the pad pad pad of naked feet on
cool tiles.
Hot here and the opening of screen doors.
Hot until I reach the beach.

In the oyster of the night sky the moon is a
pearl.
In the moonlight driftwood looks like cattle
skulls.
It is cool here.
Down where the land rises from out the water.

In the oyster of the night sky
the clouds are mother of pearl reflections.
It is cool here.

Where the love-tide ebbs.
Where the tide-pool rises from out the water.
Where gray crabs scuttle.
Where undersea plants hang in the air.
Where the water is dark and shadowed.
It is cool here.

Where the tide-pool, without breathing,
swallows my eyes.