The waves slither over the rocks and wink
    cutting into the soles of our flesh
    whispering sweet nothings to the porcelain of skin
Our feet are not used to treading without shoes
    and we’ll walk the waters
    stalk the waters like panthers to their prey
carefully calculating where to strike next
so our toes can skim the surface without dousing ourselves in doubt

The velvet starlessly undulates like serpents overhead
    nipping playfully at our ankles
    hissing fog over the cross-stitching below
Our toes giggle and ease on our slippers of cold
    and we’ll shift the waters,
    sift the waters of their impurities and artifice
leaving the ingredients of ginger, sand, and freckles
so we can remember the recipe for when we grow older

A melody fits between the stones
    caterwauling over the wail of the winds
    humming through the salt and silt
Our laughter clicks like puzzle pieces
    and we’ll see the waters,
    be the water’s song resounding in low octaves
echoing inside the memories framed
so our tongues will never forget what to sing to get out of trouble

A beacon slices the shore with dancing lights
    twirling between the universe and words
    supping on the whip of the sea against rock
Our eyes well with the tears of de Leon
    and we’ll feel the waters,
    steal the waters back to our hearths in tiny blue bottles
watching them swirl around inside the glass
so our fists can hold resolute to the green light unattainable