AFTER A SWIM
There comes a time in the affairs of man
when he must take the bull by the tail
and face the situation.
Inside the shark’s belly,
it’s really a bit too late
to worry much whether
I locked my front door
before going swimming.
I’m sure I’m marked as
missing now, but despite
my having gotten chopped
into many different parts
before getting swallowed
live, I still have all my keys
rattling in my swimsuit
in case the shark finds
I’m not eatable after
all and spits me out.
Reaching for my key now,
I’m swimming to my door,
but where on earth
did my right hand go?
AFTER A SWIM
There comes a time in the affairs of man
when he must take the bull by the tail
and face the situation.
Inside the shark’s belly,
it’s really a bit too late
to worry much whether
I locked my front door
before going swimming.
I’m sure I’m marked as
missing now, but despite
my having gotten chopped
into many different parts
before getting swallowed
live, I still have all my keys
rattling in my swimsuit
in case the shark finds
I’m not eatable after
all and spits me out.
Reaching for my key now,
I’m swimming to my door,
but where on earth
did my right hand go?
Published in The Dryland Fish, 2003