Shipwrecked

Waveless water,

I don’t deny this canoeis hesitant for two

                 yet I shall dreamof what I do not need; a dogmoaning in the anteroomunaware she isn’t alone, I’llnightmare.

Had you swum to me a manrather than a memory

                 I would have drawnup your heart cavityout of the seaso that itcould brittle in the sunand let offallowing you to properlystretch toward thatmaterializing island.

A woman alone with the ocean     does not make a siren.

Here, memory. I won’t strokeyour neck’s salty ring or capsizeyou sans indulgence. I admit

I’d rather drag you           net-caught fish.