Coquina

photo by author

Discerning grackles’ iridescence from the
planar black of crow,
I was thinking I should think about the ocean more.
Thousands of empty homes I crush as I
crunch through a dry sea of frailty.
Thousands!
The closer I get, uniformity
reveals itself to be unique, and then
underneath unique is
uniformity again.
Standing by are a thousand reasons
my body should get to keep its bones.
Ever followed your footsteps
backward? No use
striding through old shapes.

Allie Wisniewski • 2021