MANGROVE LOVE

The mud-skipper
Rolls a gold
Ocular globe
And pauses mid
Stuttering-stride
Watching
The slow-flow
Of the heaving
Salt-tongued sea
Slipping through
The aching arch
Of straining
Muscular roots
Held up, up,
Up, upright;

Watches with
Voyeur-delight
The mangrove
Making tender
Tidal love
To the slender
Swooning
Sickle moon

Manuela Cardiga