sea captain gave his orders
he told them he would dream of them all
his fumes in flammable clouds
ignited the space they saw

a puff could singe you fully
even before it dissipates
the air escapes and cools you
at an unexpected rate

but I only played and pretended
his baptism didn’t work on me
with their burnt hands jammed in their pockets
the others lowered with glee

making his rounds he embraced us
one by one he touched our waists’ curves
instead of burnt hands my pockets held metal
and my shoulders held terror of nerve

when it was my turn he stepped forward
pulling his hips to my wealth
when he hugged me I knew he felt it
pressing – pressing on his stealth

his mouth cranked open... I reached in and moved it behind him...

his shirt draped over his arched body
while he started to laugh and shake
and I struck him and struck him with an embrace
I stabbed him while I held his waist

I missed his warm touch a moment later
when he fell back I looked down at the shard
the shiny piece of his prized ship
It was my heart that turned hard

then I asked the others to thank me
as the sea fell to the floor
they only left us there
I thought they would want more

could I join them outside... and laugh and sing again...
2007