Le Cœur de la Mer

my heart is encased in a glowing menthol veil-
circled by a burning neon halo
of titanium white.

wrap it in bands of wet seaweed
of the deepest forest green.
mantle it in aloe leaves-
shower it with bits of clover
in small doses. 

the fire is dim and crackling near the sea
in the darkness
the waves are coming in

a groundswell surges against a nearby rock
heavy mist spatters
the smallest dots of cool water
over my face.
as if a thumb drew back against the end of a paintbrush
from a ladder above me-
tiny translucent pebbles fall
descending in blankets
over me.

I push my fingers beneath the cold damp sand
as i go it slides like tectonic plates
creating echoing circular patterns of wispy cracks
my skin feels cool
saturated grains of sand push up
behind the tips of fingernails 
I feel alive. 

the waters swirl in the cove beyond the ridge
I hear them softly convene
far from me now.
Let's walk there tomorrow before the sun
rises too high in the sky 
before it begins to hurt my eyes. 

cover me-
keep me safe.
just whisper now

we can wear our capes
we can wade in the blue pool in the morning
and we will look for special shells.

let me hold the stone please
let me warm it in my palm

the wind can't blow us away-
don't worry.