vengeance

the sea made Henry
knot a fishline ’round his ring,
tie one end to his wrist
and throw the package in the water

as he stood there, he sang lullabyes to the ocean
tugging often at the line to make it sparkle
but elusive:

“There are no hooks to catch them with
There is no catch for me to keep
I tempt them with a promise and a song
Once sung to me.”

 

About this poem

Written 9/16/98, 12:30am. A couple of my friends were smitten that week, neither of whom was named Henry. This was a result of conversations with them.