turtle moon
turtle moon
for Anne Merchantwhen we met you were heavy with life,
graceful and divine with purpose,
making me feel like an empty shell
tumbled by the rising tide.
i wanted to feel every line of your
broken back, burn them into my soul,
thread myself to you.
witnessing the relentless shudders
of motherhood woke me; i am swollen
now, with secrets written down
to the sea, with your every step
like my dying breath.