You were Flesh and salt.

We let the same wave wash over us. In ritual

we are cleansed, forgiven, absolved of sin 

You were

water to me

deep and bold and fathoming

We are floating

in limbo

in between

You were

moon’s eye to me

pull and grained and mantling 

I am returned to you

in bodies of water, in lyric of ocean, in rhythm of waves

You were

sunrise to me

rise and warm and streaming

You are returned to me

In new bodies, in new hosts

We will meet again at dawn

You are sent to me

You were the fish’s red gill to me

the flame tree’s spread to me

the crab’s leg/ the fried plantain smell

replenishing replenishing

Go to your wide futures, you said.

I feel the spring sun on our skin on the days of our births

The blossom of your garden in my throat

The fragrance of roses you forced into my hand, cut for my mother

I remember what you were wearing, so I slip my skin into the same cloth

Taste the salt on your lips

What happened to the bodies

Human blood is salty

Let me close my eyes in your sun

Float

The water unravels my hair, our hair

      Before it is bleached and dried in your sun 

You are strong hands and deep, sunned skin

You are dark eyelashes and sunspots

You are

Flesh and salt.

You are taken from me

You are sent to me

In new bodies