she had walked for miles and miles
until she came upon the waterless sea
just the shadow of water
the memory of water
remained
washing over her
lying
with arms outstretched
on the ocean’s cracked floor.
and she could feel it coming,
this tidal wave
she closed her eyes
and took in its hungry roar
as it swallowed the world
up around her,
and she stuck out her tongue
to taste the salt on her dry sunburnt lips
as it loomed,
nearer and nearer it came,
higher and higher it grew
until it fell right down upon her
came down around her,
washed over her
every thought
every fear
everything
and she
let
herself
drown,
she let it in
willingly
in her imaginary sea.
and when she finally opened
her slow tired eyes,
she swore she could
still hear
the tide.