Can you walk? I asked.
Sure I can, it said. I’ll walk with you a little way.
We can talk about love and play
and the ocean that is always next door.

That’s not quite right I said.
Sure the ocean keeps pace with us.
It would lose our respect if it didn’t.
Mainly it just wants to be here and loyal.

That’s what keeps it from splashing across the planet.
I can see you now it said.
I’m glad that you are in focus,
you in and out of dreams it said.

Often one will waken in a well-scrubbed interior
and find it looks dirty, or disappointing
in some other way. Just unplanned.

One keeps coming back to that.
There was little to be said, and we have already said it.
Here, I’ll take you. You can repose in my arms
for the rest of the night, which will be blue
and gloriously understaffed.

Make that notoriously understaffed.

The bench is coming undone.

I recommend it highly.