Floating World

Floating World
Accoridan Book
Paper, vellum, ink, water-color, acrylic
April 2008

Text inside reads:
"Floating World

For my Mother

On the morning you found out your mother died, the high tide ushered hundreds of glowing orange starfish to the shore where they faded to white in the sun, then bowed their five arms to you. Violet wine soaks your mouth & every blossom for miles; you bury yourself in the sand to feel the weight of your breath--the gentle collapse of your mother's gray lungs.

I decorate your shape: baby's ears, periwinkles, paddle the sand around your body--you remain silent but shake until the sand fissures & the shells tumble down your sides.

Mother, you & I are as bright and distinct as the far-off dunes when we walk along the shoreline, inexhaustible & long as our legs, our breaths. We search for the sea turtle nests--the strokes of fins & shell towards the sons & daughters buried in cold sand--while at night we look for your mother in the stars, staring hard until it means nothing, like repeating the word--Mother, mother, mother."