The Oceans Will Be Semi-Gorgeous: Emi, Jackie

March 30, 2020 Kate Belew with Emi, Jackie (New York City)

We won't necessarily be better off

and I've made my peace with that. 

But the oceans will be semi-gorgeous

and compromising, a laissez-faire approach

and we have to be hands-off now, don't we?

Take the stem through your teeth from one end and

keep the distances long, but briefly hold

eyes in contact. Our irises something like 

swimming pools, innumerable pools,

pools of liquid memory — how effortless

I dip myself in.