This is how we speak underwater

it’s simple: pads of fingers trace wet skin,
more rhythm, less semantics,

mine are pickled, hers selkie silk
and I drown, and I watch
her gills:

crescent moons that smile
sideways as she breaks
bubbles escaping my lips

my hands are quicksilver fish
fleeing their fate. They beg

air

but the bridge of her nose folds
against itself
like I’ve suggested poison.

Be happy.

She sings this along the pearls
of my spine. She licks more water
into my lungs.

Be happy.

Thoughts crash, scrape abrasive
into the thudding
in my skull. I try to translate
the concept of drowning
to this creature, I sign

Your water is like air to me.

into the teeth of her rib cage.
Her mouth stretches wide and hungry
and pleased. I try again, fingers blind,

I can’t breathe here

and she answers soft
and sweet on the skin
of my cheek she whispers

Why else
would you crawl
beneath the waves?