Riptide  by Nancy Schatz Alton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I be considerate of my bitterness?

Can I make my own remedy?

Can I be citrus peel?

My rush of long feeling

overpowers minutes.

I’m always stepping back,

considering the underbelly of bitter

pulling myself apart

until I can love whatever gets in the way

of vitamin C absorption.

Pull acid to sweetness

slowdown & mix.

How do I find time for this?

If I don’t, my citrus doubles,

the sting so strong—

instead of curing scurvy

I break every beach house window.

Storylines are title waves

until the youngest sailor breaks them apart

she sees the beauty of curving into the storm,

the way riptides sometimes slide us

closer to home.