Gazing

in dreams, i tread
the underside of waves, baleened
and corseted, sponge-bathed
and powder-puffed, my delicate
lady-fingers haloed
in dandelion parachutes - every
iridescent inkblot a potential
damsel, a lady-friend, arms full
of upside-down
tulips. the turquoise green grows us,
balloons and releases, every
shipwreck folded back into
particles, underwater phylum pearling
the crest of waves, calling

sailors

(all herring-boned
and clasp-fingered) to learn
the ancient art of cloud      gazing.