Became Her

The Sea Became Her
(for Phaon)

"(Still holding in that fearful leap
By her loved lyre) into the deep,
And dying, quenched the fatal fire
At once, of both her heart and lyre"
THOMAS MOORE, Evenings in Greece, 1826

I
The coastline is milk white
(she held the bottles in her arms) and ran upon the rocks
Dragging the glass across the shingle and shale of her skin,
Clouds were reflected in the broken halves as
She pulled herself beneath the fading waves.

II
Her feet were found amongst broken glass
The outline of her body captured in the sand,
Dug out by her lover's hands; her bed became empty.
Her hair choked the turning tide (she held seaweed as
lovers ebbed away) she knew
only whale song and the call of sirens.

III
She lived with him for awhile
Hoping it would bring resolve.
To stop her arguments fizzling out
She served them up each meal; every phrase
Word and motive swallowed whole.
When he left, she sent them out with Christmas cards
His name left blank beside her own.