The Red Cross Swim Meet

The Red Cross Swim Meet

The ocean kisses us
with an open mouth

laps at breasts
as we turn our heads to breathe

in and out, the air
heaving through us

like so much more than
tide, than wave.

On the beach, the ocean
watches our backs

decorated with its wet beads,
wanting us back, wanting

the thrill of it again, wanting
to feel our paper limbs

flutter, our hands cup
and push sky in,

wedding us
with salty eyes.