Haysand

Haysand
 
Saw oarweed as mounds of dread,  
torn meal from spiteful sea,
razor edges all upturned,  
choir hum of violent waves,
and bottled there,
turned my back,
ceased my boldness,  
ditched cuttlebone,
dragged cove on
to watch lads disrobe,  
followed strides,  
those imprinted psalms
trusted before baptism,  
unsteady,
painted myself
in break and tide,
became a gull floating,
mottled in fog.
The seals dissolved
beyond cuff-foam crests,  
tempered flesh
quivered, bobbed
in toeable sand,  
courage installed
with few salt slaps,
dove beneath
cormorant's wave,
disintegrated into
sloped oblivion.