the ocean

anger was the ocean
undulate wild beneath me blue
suicide waves ripple razor quick
but never slip below

undertow, the jagged grasp of fall
the beck and call of it all
(heard it in a song
carried the moral all along)

salt wind begin the whipping
smack heart, thrash start
taffy wisp turns of summer beginning
new every time, mine

in spirit the salt surf wastes (away)
in mouth the crushed stone taste
(coppertone on the phone long distance)
age flails and turns

spins neon circles past flashing words
“jet star” (rumbling mad in harmony ‘round loose curves)
close tides crash ever harder
never mind, diamond shine, fade martyr

jersey shore, 1984
cause and effect of thunderous neglect
miss you more than subways
feel you with my eyes
catch you on the reprise
we’ll all sing the song
we meant for you

anger was the ocean
slick waves ripple quick
salt surf not wasted on me
not in this memory