red right ankle-take 2

Somersault

they’re just words—
words stacked on end tables
heaved into black smoke
down twisted highways, skirt the edge of mountains
series of letters ‘round your neck
alphabet soup mix, fruit loop bowls
my tiny twine string
sometimes edible begets
a permanent engraved arm band

deep gauged rivulets run to my left
water marks are long and lean
hand packed sand to build
like winter snow men-caked in ice

when I whisper into your ear
I say things like:
Whisker tickles, harpy heroines, droopy faced dogs
You swat at your ear
You say things like:
Did you hear the buzz? It was close this time.

*
yellow haired dog, orange cap
I see your floating stick

*
cartwheels down the pier
stripped down to my underwear
on the ledge that you could finger
removing it only for a moment for a fishing pole
a child’s waist


the words spell out
s e a f o a m g r e e n
slimy seal skin rocks

Little boy says Move it, move it.
I hate you, I hate you.
a gum full of syllables
low rumble in your throat
Other Little twin says nothing, sly—

*
orange cap & yellow dog
still shore waiting

*
the seagull is one step ahead
cupped palm, my inward turned ankle
open and shut beak
brown mottled and smooth
birdshit is directly down,
cock your head over the edge
Do you see it clinging to the sides?

pull in that crawdaddy—yank
tight on your imaginary line
hold on to a bit of something
7 inch crab legs, maybe

turn the spigot, full on stream
a splash to the silver paneled sides
deep grooved wood is sinking
pock marked checker board
the queen moves in zig zags
the rook lies in wait
a tumble and toss down a drainpipe
you’re sea born now
sizzle and pop goes the sea spray, drop in smooth

boards splinter off into the Pacific
little sugar cubes popped into tea
swirl and let us ride a wave
until we somersault onto sand
heaved and heart beat happy

*
Yellow-orange
shift and slough off
careful not to slip under

*
poke around with a big stick
letters appear in pockets
under armpits and behind knee bends
keep collecting to make words
find your way home
deep in a blanket fold—sleep