Whirlpool (Poetry)

Some nights he talks to me as if I’m real
our dream is kinder for a taste of fantasy
the fish inside is swimming south to feel
her tender mouth hooked on the line’s drawn destiny

Words tug at truth, the old lies thinly shoal
the broken promise sinks a fathom down
black marriage-wrecking rocks take a harsh toll
and heartless mermaids watch dumb sailors drown

The sea flows red as wine — it sips and sings
and passion has it gurgle, gasp and spray
hope’s albatross aloft on weary wings
the lonesome seer that keeps despair at bay

He sees me now — the moon illuminates
the change I cannot trick the clock to hide
I wonder how the shame of it translates
while gaps in understanding stutter wide

Expression dithers cloudy on his face
light reflected ripples on and on
a beam picks out a sneer — a sly grimace
a whirlpool-sucking moment finds me gone