in the slip and the slide

neither fish nor fowl

thrumming pulse of inbetween spaces

estuary, I’m the weary

doorway between the

the ocean of this world

and my rivers

battered as a sandbar

worn smooth as seaglass

in a sea of I don’t see color

of affirmative action assumptions

of neighbors moving away when we move in

of being taken for the maid instead of the homeowner

drowning in unmet dreams and unreasonable demands

not opposed to my nature to protect

my untested waters

not regretting my choices

even as self-entitled silt and can you take care of it trash streams in riverlets

choking my decisive crevices

willing to withstand storm after storm

willing to weather away from every side

waiting for the ocean of the world to

wash my efforts clean