by Kathy Pon
A purple mussel tumbles in salty surf; secrets surrendered
between breaths. Imagine both sides, two lovers facing
each other. Distinct halves anchored, cohesive. Moored
in faith. Like us, who we are fused in fiber to who we are
together. A firm foot plants in sand, pushes forward, seeks
equilibrium for this dyad as we learn to mirror the lovely
or mess of the other’s body. Velvet kisses slick a slippery
neck; curves of desire, we couple. Tidal rhythms awaken
us, faceless strangers. Rogue currents toss away tenderness,
sweep us into rough waters, lodging love on a rocky ledge.
How habit hardens grooves like moon ridges. Familiarity
stifles spontaneity; we crave release, a wild pelagic infusion.
Outside, weathered rocks worn down, decades of ennui,
etched predictability. Inside, our nacreous luster glows, faint
memory, love’s origin. Two souls melded as one. A hinged
promise muscles adversity in a bed of deep, wet darkness.
Kathy Pon lives on an almond orchard with her husband and two dogs in the San Joaquin Valley. Her poems have been featured in Plants & Poetry Journal, The Write Launch, The Orchards Poetry Journal, Euonia Review, Cosmic Daffodil Journal and Penumbra.
Emerge Literary Journal 