Caught

 

At peace in the sunlit sea, my beautiful home 

my most magnificent self

suddenly seized, confined—

Who are you?

How dare you?

 

Thrashing against slippery mesh,

squeezing against holes, I will myself free.

This net is my heart, my love,

come to me.

 

I’ve been caught this way before—

trapped and dumped out 

onto a dry, inflexible deck.

That man laughed as I struggled to breathe—

called me tasty, salivating.

 

I promise, come to me and live

surrounded by my love.

I will keep you in water

alive, breathing.

No need to grow legs and walk on sand.

 

He gazes down at me, 

delicious! he croons—

drool dripping down his cheek.