A Merrow
Hiding
In a woman’s body
Her world
Limned
Within the puerile
Extent
Of her consciousness.

And rising above her
Solid as Newcastle coal
Lir
His face
A web of ratlines
Carved by the wind
And in his eyes
The sea.

She swims in this
Impression
His voice a nurses balm
Crisp as lager
Pulling her
Up
Up
Until she breaches
The bow wave
Back arched
Breath stilled

And then sinks
Beneath him
Believing
Nothing will hurt her
While he covers her
From the cold.