i brought you to my aquatic election
to show you off as my bride
and the most breathtaking mermaid that ever lived.

you stole me some votes,
the voters’ lungs have never been in such a hurry
to make such saline decisions.


remember the battling and lobbying
for the tiny air bubbles they had to use to raise
the sand dollars to pay for all of this?

we called it the champagne campaign
a colony of carbonization we all need it.

there was condensation on the town’s glass walls
as everyone was fast breathing and anxious
to submit their waterproof ballots.



it was the atlantic vs. the pacific.



when I spoke of our republic at war,
we talked oxygen tanks and tridents.
the people felt like fighters,
each dreaming diver ready to sacrifice
their life to first live.



ulysses would have been so proud.



you watched me make careful rallies at
the cries, the sponges that once died
are revived with the citizens wetted tears.

whetted appetites we gave them what they wanted to hear.

more green lights for the yellow submarines
to calm the red gazes of all of our
favourite 8 lane swimmers.
olympic-sized pools for the athletes or was that
bad strategy considering where we exist,
though we should surely stay fit and unite in the riptides.
as the only thing allowed to pull us under is the weight
of the anchor hearts in our chests
waiting to bust at too much depth in verse.

we debated for more dancefloors to keep the motion of the ocean
steady and rocking.

plenty of dark eye makeup and disconights
to keep new faces kissing, love and soaked shirts
multiplying like the tadpoles of the east
who never cease scattering.


i discussed the New White Chance Policy
to wash away our old sins,
starting fresh, because it is true,
people do change.


above the surface where they harpoon & speak of a
“good catch”
i can imagine myself seeing your reflection
instead of mine.

they’re trying to shift our shores again but they don’t
sail in our seaworld.

burying our treasured speech,
i’m sure you remember the sonar whispers
i etched into the sand when the crowd died down.

this town has arrived.

i scribbled in cursive, “I think we did it”.

my lashes sank to the bottom fast
to stir up a quick cloud of sand
to hide deep inside
and let out tidal sighs.



vital signs.

09/29/2009

Author's Note: prequel to my "Citizens of the Ocean"...where i get elected. mmm. EVERYTHING is better thru a waterproof lens.

Posted on 09/30/2009
Copyright © 2024 Steven Kenworthy