submerge()

---

sorry.for.uproar(the.other.night);
my.last.attempt
to.drown(her);

body.arranged(to.replace.me);
ribs.leading.to(dry_well);
blade_held(by.its.edge);
salt.burns(in.powdered.skin);

deemed(damaged_beyond_repair);
too.harsh_minded;
too.weak_hearted;
posed.badly;
nerves.narrating;
knees.meant.apart;

G — the.only.string
holding.her.down;
half.deceased;

bitter;
burdened;
blistered;

waters.were(warm%);
i.dip(her.toes);
plunge(waist_deep.in.grace);

wanted_depth? // damn;
hold_your.breath();

anchor_her(in.blue.deep_end);
let.her_up(for.air);
devour(salty.soul.for_strength);
then.suffocate(all_over_again);

one.hand.cups.my.face;
the.other.tightens.my.throat;
prosthetic.tenderness
clawed.raw;

empire.of(void) → collapsed;
illusion.shattered();
glass.scattered();
resting(on.the.floor);
chlorine.bloated;

shards.wrapped(in.newspaper.grief);
vision.glazed(in.blur&static);

sharp.edges.don’t_soften;
proximity.alert(keep.away);
i.choke(on.deception) →
pretend(i.didn’t.lose_myself);
unready_to(mourn);

aftertaste—acrid;
disinfected;
licked.clean;

conditioned.pressure.fed;
swallowed(whole);

now.i.offer.my.throat —
eager;
obedient;
hand-printed;
immensely.wrong;

---

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[image.credit: Les Perles by Alain Laboile 2013]