February25poem: Not Waving

You see
That side-to
Side
Movement I’ve been
jerking, that
Seaweed in eddies, buffeted
Dogwood, thrashing of arms Side-
To-side twisting of my trunk with
shoulders above my ears – It’s not
waving – it’s
god help me,
It’s - take notice, it’s -
I’ve made blood happen in the bathtub -
It’s - I’m clawing -
It’s - I’ve sunk into the bile pit
Of my own stomach, I’m bogged in crude
Oil like an egret,
The feathers are slick - I’m
sliding

-Rae