you wrote me a love letter in invisible ink.

(and though it was salt-studded)

the waves made it wet, and it's

washed up.

and your smile dangled

like a limp sail

hanging,

dangerous and daring.

your maritime morals

had me momentarily

stymied.

as your eyes turned the color

of iron anchors overboard

you threw your best winsome grin

to the wind.

your jaw line was a coastline

we charted our progress on so

many maps.

we were oceanographers,

starboard sailors

sea-bound.

you wanted me

oceanside

languid limbs flailing

with the lilt of water.

but now we're breaking on the bay

and it's so much safer here.