See/Sea: Editor's Prize 1st Place Poetry - Daniel Guo' 28

See / Sea 

*a contrapuntal 

See, Sea, 

The underbelly of the ocean, Wispy whitewash 

Crass with barnacles, Cool like foxtail. I am 

The joy you gave birth to, singing in the fields we played in, Chasing after my ruin, melodic like honeydew 

You always ran ahead I followed your image, every night The grass turning into your voice; 

Beating me, punished by my love. 

Your hatred 

When you looked back, I can no longer make out the shape of The wind blowing your hair against your face A pulsing river flowing back and forth. I am A dandelion waiting for something close to Your lips, A confession, hollow like A cool seashell, you gave me hope, inspires 

Hope, hanging loosely like Pain. Tracing along my palm lines I revisit Rosary beads– The tongue of the sea: 

Conchs and clams, the gift you gave me. 

Here, I am 

Just an afterthought lingering 

For you to forget in waves. Remember me? I am still A boy who was 

The flame, a nightmare 

That branded your hands a wreckage, 

You are scared to face What you have created. 

The sea 

A monster starved by your absence.