orris√

   I

Sister I’ve been swimming now
for as long as I remember
thinking we are nearly
there but something
isn’t quite right my lungs
are burning the surface seems
so far so alien a distant shore
so close                       so close


   II

Sister you are stirring salt
into a glass of water telling me
to watch when it settles
you are slowly pouring freshwater
on top look you say look
at how similar they seem
how they refuse to mix

   III

Sister you are comforting me
a day later when the bruising
on my ribs finally darkens
it looks just like the water
doesn’t it you tell me
to be untrusting of bruises
they change their faces appear
more terrible than they look
you say they are villains
you must touch them to be sure