I got down to the bay just when
the waves were climbing over the pilings;
the water recognized me then – I had to step back.
I looked up and saw
two gulls imitate me, moving out
with their heads lowered, even flying
they looked like me. They grew brown hair
and chewed their claws like fingernails.
They became embarrassed to be seen.
And when I heard the echo of me
saying ‘oh,’ coming out of a ripe pile
of fish scales heads, severed tails,
I ran for the limits,
hoping they would be marked and close.