Glowing rooftops and alligator skin
washed up on green sand beaches
camouflaged, hiding shifty eyes
except irises purple and pupils expanding
what does distortion look like
reverberating through salty waves

Light flashes between the fifth
and minor four like a polaroid
but you probably don't remember
that kind of instant gratification
in a modern world where tangible
means antiquated and to make
means a veritable lifetime

Buck up, kid
the world is full of shortcuts
that introduce dense foliage
and exotic invasive species
and first dances on wedding days
and bare feet scuffed and scraped
racking up years of tear
and callouses leathery and intimidating

When the rain disintegrates your cover
and your muscles ache and strain
touch your toes and listen
to birds singing in the wind