Where the City Meets the Sea

She comes out of the water
With her hair perfectly dry

After digging a little in the sand
She comes up with two red shoes
And a dress that fits her
Just the way she wants it to

As soon as she can't feel the sand
Underneath her feet anymore
She feels a little bit more normal

Like a solid person
Made up of cement
And aluminum

She stood a little straighter
When she got herself onto the sidewalk
And from there the steel drum music
Put a little something solid
Into her step

Into a club where the music
Matched the lights
On the sign outside

Pink, purple, bright, flashing

She felt black marble underneath her
And so her hair turned obsidian
And her fingernails grew a few an inch or two

People would say she looked like a witch
And that was all right with her


She was only here
For one man's attention


He was standing near the bar
In a bright blue suit
Sipping the last few drops
Of a poorly made drink

As soon as he sees her
He's on his feet
Meeting her halfway across the dance floor
With an open hand
That slides around her waist
Like a snake around the neck


Her fingernails go into his back so deep
She feels parts of his chest
Push out against her


Then they dance for what seems like days
Until she whispers to him that the morning's arriving soon
And the ships are coming in


He walks her back down to the beach
And reaches into the sand
To pull out a ring
She can wear around her finger
If she wants to


As soon as she puts it on
She's gone


He scatters sand
Over the place where she fell
And the water creeps up up the shore
To do the rest of the work for him


Then he walks back onto the cement
And up the side of a neon side
That tells him where he is
Right before he's on the roof
And further, and further


Inside the dancers ride the night
And some ask about the woman
With the beautiful black hair
And the long fingernails


And some ask about the pale man
And his bright blue suit

And outside the sky is covered with mist
So much so that nobody can see
The moon or the water

Just the light of one
Reflecting off the other