from the clothes that made them
invisible to nearby family-
rated beaches
it was necessary
to abuse our feet
of(f) shoes and pound
over pebbles, rushing in
to consecration, naked, wading
painfully
quickly
submerged
city kids full on RV B-B-Qs rode past
on fancy bikes du(al)ly-suspensed
looked out toward us but saw only dark
shimmering reflections of sunlight and trees
two smiling faces, wet shiny hair
devoid of shampoo and less sterilised
parts hidden from view
you pulled my rest against
your chest pressed into my back
legs kicking rhythmically, strong
enough so i could let go
of the red buoy or
buoyancy itself
and you would keep (me) afloat
holding (me) in place
with your grace
amongst other things
unspoken
ungestured
under-stood
from where we stood-
under water
ungrounded
undistilled
until that day
« return.