Under a clouded sky I walked the shore
Tossing errant starfish against the wind
The soft crush of sand beneath my boots
At first all I saw was a wet mound
‘Til she lifted her head and seaweed
Tumbled down in waves around her gills
She lay in a small pool of water
Caught between land and the receding tide
Heavy, I lifted her, rough scales chaffing
An eternity before we were deep enough
And in a movement, she kissed me and slid free
This is how I came by the scar on my lip