the same deep water as me

the same deep water as me

I am struggling
to find my mermaid
in a city locked out
far from the sea.

I have prised open
long legged lakes,
pooled deep in ponds
and puddles,
gazed inside merry muddles
of rain caught napping
in bird baths, buckets,
even an old tin bath
resting on a mound of rubble
outside an empty house
with sad eyed windows.

I thought
I’d seen more
than before.
but closer eyes
showed me
how my mind lies
for in fact,
what I thought was my mermaid,
was no more than a ghost
taking a wash.

but I have seen you
in the waking hours,
slipped between pages of dreams,
like pressed poppies.

but new November snow
has frozen your seas.

at the moment,
you are lodged within
my hope, as a slender tear.

deep inside
the water that makes me mine
you are there.

you swim
with soft song,

unspoken leagues
at shimmer behind
your ocean gaze,

clasped like a glinted,
gifted star,

your rare smile,
hidden away
like a seabed pearl.