weren’t we locked together
hands to elbows
a bridge under tension
with you missing, the balance broken
how long did I fall
into what body of water
and what finned beasts swam there
it took me years to return to the surface
and now these knees make standing hard
having sprouted gills
some breath spills
out with every heave
your memory the cane that props up this structure
my children swing from my wrists
carefree humans who believe
they can break away
unsupported
