Drowned

I watch / the old men / search / the lake
the one / man / loses / the dark tip
of his oar / I think / of my sister’s / hair
drying / in the sun / my neighbor / hanging
her wash / at night / the lantern / swings low
across / the water / as a boy / I’d dive
from the cliff / I was / told that / undertakers
cut / and sell / the hair / of the dead
they whistle / the same / tune / my neighbor
hums / to herself / in the dark / the water
rises / the old men / have / the boy
by the ankle / they are / taking us / home




An early version of “Drowned” appeared in Yemassee.