A woman slips into masculine waters,
swims from here to there,
swims a long way – away.

She wrecks the water with desire,
busy with achievement along the way,

muscles beg stroke by stroke

the anthem of ache
recorded in neglect . . .

No time to luxuriate in buoyancy,
to revel in the flush of flow,
to taste silver on the tongue.

Upon arrival

she knows where she has gotten to,
she does not know where she has been.