I see the ocean surround me
everywhere I go.
I live on the mountain
and in deep salty waters.
There are birds that fly
both mountain air and the ocean.
Do not swat at the things that bother you
or you may break their wings.
Sometime last year I realized
my heartbeat powers the tide.
I feel I should have naturally
sensed that rhythm
and recognized it
shortly after I was born.
Maybe puberty pushed it
out of my awareness.
I placed my hand on my heart
to regulate the tides
and alter the moon’s effect
on my love life.
I removed
a rib by mistake
and broke it into a quintuplet
set of Eves—
all penguins swimming
near the tree line.
copyright © 2020 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 