Kingfisher & Woman Drowning

Bright kingfisher (blue, all beak)
crouches on buoy as boom cracks skull.
Her mind: numbed wood. He’ll call this one Stages
of Blood Blooming from Ear.

Sail shroud settled, now it’s sealing.
Had she known that bird’s a creep,
restless as the stars are dulled.

Once he smoothed out dog-eared pages,
once smoothed her forehead without fear.
But he’s tired of all the healing—

more lovely drownings to keep.
Inspects each one from upturned hulls.