Autumn Swim

Toes touch foam lips, knees slice sharkfin waves;
minnow-scatters, acts of divination.
On thighs, hips, the swathe of water instils
a chill burning, eel-smooth over slicked skin.
The tide's muscles, sinews, answer in kind;
arms stride or flail, legs march backwards, clenched feet
skitter on sand clouds till a jellyfish
pumps by: an ogre's head, a tented ghost.
The flood is pumice-grey, a fissured veil
pulled inland, as if by a great hook. Lightning
behind cloud banks — keyhole and aureole:
prelude to a storm which stalls, stays far off
till perse and gunpowder-blue clouds sag,
slide down in tungsten walls of rain.