And just like that the ocean
recedes, it got so close

but spread itself too thin,
and now returns to

its silent, sunless
depths.

Silence.
Eventually, the bear

becomes balm,
the bite of alone

grows toothless—
too well known.

You wrote to me
in words of loss,

I haven’t yet found
a reply—

but agree we
should get back out

on the water,
soon, that is, unless

you’ve had your fill
of straddling two worlds—

I know how
it’s exhausting.