Ocean Bed

The ocean crept up on me

From over the horizon it climbed my toes

Sprayed salt on my skin

Algae on my stomach

Slipped sea grass into my throat

I said no to its body on mine

But it was already in my hair, on my lips, in my clothes

When the rip tide pulled me under

Pushed me into the ocean bed

With the waste and sea glass

I was full of reef and sea

Sick with unbridled current

And crawling with sharp-toothed creatures

I surfaced and crawled onto the sand

And spat my last mouthful of salt

Art by Anonymous

Text by Lucie MacAulay