Rings in my bones
Orange in my lungs
I once had spongey, sea green flesh
I pissed in the sand,
Goaded the waves,
Battled the tide,
content that I would lose.
On a Sunday, the ocean came knocking
with imported skys
and electric sea foam
I answered.
Knowing I would only be choked while my lungs had air
and cold until my hot blood chased it away
I grew gnarled in surrender.
Gnarled.
With pink flowers and calloused buds.
I have no more use for my salt hardened skin
Or my knotted bones
Rings in my bones
Orange in my lungs
I once had spongey, sea green flesh
I pissed in the sand,
Goaded the waves,
Battled the tide,
content that I would lose.
On a Sunday, the ocean came knocking
with imported skys
and electric sea foam
I answered.
Knowing I would only be choked while my lungs had air
and cold until my hot blood chased it away
-Sophia Larson, ’23