Resurfacing

. . . that great and true Amphibian whose nature is disposed to live, not only like other creatures in divers elements, but in divided and distinguished worlds.
            — Sir Thomas Browne

He rose through the warm depths of glistening
dark-skinned women, past juniper branches
bending with beads of ice, vaguely aware
of a trembling current of thunder
like wind upon the surface of a dream.

Then he entered the air
where everything seemed to be dripping,
the trees and even the roof above his head.

Then he rolled over slowly
and flipped on the light
and it fell like a film
on the table.

Hear it: