Renewal

By Sara Kandler

I take to you

like a fish to water

injured and humbled

shudder

sink

hit rock bottom

I summon strength

from within

begin to wriggle

through jagged grooves

an algae brine infuses

my parched gills

you sea me

sustain me

I can breathe

Now I rise

heading windward

ride your heaving tides

perched high above deep sea canyons

sunlight glinting off my bare back

Your alcoves slowly recede

into delicate pools

far afield

a fable, an elixir, a shield