A Secret Swimmer

Each of these compositions
Was composed to be
Apotropaic,

A poem to paint a fierce face
On the world, against the world,
A poem to warn away harm.

That the compositions saw
The world from their own
Perspective, glaring at it,

Only meant each poem witnessed,
Down through clouds and leaves,
Down past demons, ghosts, and gods,

The secret swimmer’s shadow
Crossing the dark green meadow.