The Palace of Bones

Boy of Sea

Boy of Sea The boy lost himself in the woods for days Until he was found drifting peacefully, Fearlessly as a blanket of firelight Atop the swamp water, alive. Hungry, but alive and unharmed. This God of sea, a child We claimed had a lesser sense, Who went about life at a slower pace, Managed to turn his body-water into sea, And cross hordes of snakes, wasps, Alligators, sharks, and other sea urchins Without provoking or frightening them. The sea-life treaded through their routines, And the boy drifted alongside them gracefully. Something in the human body, perhaps, Or the way we disguise ourselves From the animals and from our own gods, But still hunt against the hunters And prowl among the prowlers, Keeps us earthbound, apprehensive, dishonest, Maintaining the dying things, the hunger, and the land, With no Gods in the sea And no angels or miracles in our way. Drawn from the embryo toward everything perishable, We want to believe in our own magic, And when one of us understands the instincts 10 You are reading copyrighted material published by Ohio University Press/Swallow Press. Unauthorized posting, copying, or distributing of this work except as permitted under U.S. copyright law is illegal and injures the author and publisher. Of the larger beasts and answers to the invisible We still let the dogs smell our fear, And can barely hear them coming. 11 You are reading copyrighted material published by Ohio University Press/Swallow Press. Unauthorized posting, copying, or distributing of this work except as permitted under U.S. copyright law is illegal and injures the author and publisher. ...