Fishergirl

(For my niece)

A taut line tugs between our hearts,

A fish hook lodged deep in my grey flesh

And when you leave me it snaps.

The lump in my throat balloons into

A full neck brace and the snot is not

Pollen induced. I blink to try and

Keep the waters well within their borders

But the tide is rising, relentless,

Reaching far in-land and bursts its banks.

I can't help

How much I love you.

Us moon babies are born from

The same flower. We see the same,

Talk, fight, laugh the same.

Sometimes you catch my gazing

And face betrays heart. I am guilty.

Caught red-handed, I hear

The click of a torch, I see

The stark bright white orb glaring

And I babble with bubbling fear that

"Yes, Officer, it was me who murdered-"

Whoever. Adoring you, the way I do, feels

Dangerous, a crime, and you

The all-ignorant victim of my love.

All you see is fun, sun, bogies, emojis,

Fountains, mountains, unicorns, newly born

Magic and spells, rock-pools and shells,

Cats and dogs and rabbits and hippogriffs,

Ponies and unicorns and dinosaurs and just a whiff

Of wisdom beyond your years. Of concrete strength.

So off you jump, fishing rod dangling and

Bashing from the straps of your rucksack.

And though this pain is deep and sharp,

I stop struggling, flapping, flailing and splashing

And just float in my ocean of love for you.