Blue Sailor

Today I will be the deep

Blue Ocean man

I’ll crack this body open

like the tough hide of a chestnut

and a soft blue sailor will emerge 

He will play the temporal winds

along his surface

like a harp

He will nuzzle against

passing ships

like the fingertips

of the mighty sea

He will check in & out of

dusky hotels 

along the blistered beach 

of sun-downs,

absorbing driftwood 

infused with memories of 

deep and churning tides 

He will undo bandages of dirt

and neglect

until the soul is free to ooze

& pain is summoned 

from below the numb gestures

& there is hurt 

& joy again