rain
picks up her hourglass
sees that it’s half-past
runs down to the dock
dips oar into water
she’s out to catch the evening news
the big ones she can use
the rest go to the gulls
it’s all so dull
… she falls asleep …
soon, she’s swimming with a man
but the water tastes like sand
it sticks between their teeth
they gasp at the surface to breathe
…
soon they wash up on a beach
sand rippling like sleep
with the waves stuck on repeat
[© 2003 rob szabo. all rights reserved.]