Heavy My Blood

I remember learning about fishin competitions being unzippedat the stomach if they came injust a little too heavy, learnedthat fishermen would pour mercurypellets down their throats to winfor weight. So heavy my bloodfeels, afternoons in a starfish poseon the bed, as if my limbs retracted,useless fins above water. Think of mebreathing in a lake, catching silt in my gills,unable to be a filter or even a worthy prize,empty-bellied of mercury or seaweed or joy.