a pearl winks cheekily from out the water, ancient and round
conversing with the fool’s gold on her ears and neck

so she breaks the tension with her fingers: puncturing
the tinkling waltz of bangles crash on her wrists, and
small bells ring as she sways

“hike up your skirt” the bells say, “for the love of mollusks and sweet music”
jigging and splashing, brine on her ankles and rust on her toe rings

she spots another pearl, reflecting moonshine off waterlogged accessories

her overskirt, petticoat, underclothes, float around her waist and knees

legs kick weakly, hands outstretched immaturely wide
ready to receive the twin moons flirting with her fingertips
tantalizing and teasing

she cannot smell the funeral barge for the incense-stained sea
steeped as she is in oceanic priory