chlorine summer

you love her as sun-kissed skin loves the first

swell of water tinted blue, scattered crystalline

fragments of memory. the first time you confessed was

on a sidewalk shimmering and turning hazy, into

liquid pools of

water tinted blue / her eyes are so blue

you could have given yourself to her, but

she caught you before the fall.

the sun touched her reassurances and gave them

substance: you are accustomed to mirages

but her truths soothe sunburns

the light frac / tures around her in waves and for once you

do not need to hold your breath to stay afloat. that day

the pavement was cool between your calloused palms

shaping peaks and valleys into your fingertips

where you imagine hers would fit

she is the honey-gold reflection of an afternoon / the

first stars in a evening sky that ripple

you see,

she moves the world for you

when you sit, toes curled above the water and

memories that roll in rivulets off your skin

her eyes are so blue / right then you

are the only reflection and her attention is

tidal.

it is easy to drown in summers without anything

worth regretting but you know

you are never out of your depth with her