i woke up thinking of that giant pool
hawaiian rocks jutting up all around
the water clear and turquoise, but also mysterious
blue-black as it descends
all around us people jumped
feet first or cannonballed
and i wondered what they'd find down there
a sharp coral or something with teeth
maybe just the pride in the knowing that they did it
today i am standing on that cliffside again
but there is no turquoise water
no dried salt on my skin
only an unreliable thermometer
and you on the phone telling me you're really throwing a lot at me
she struggles to take regular breaths and it could be nothing
it could be everything i've been afraid of
there could be nothing down there
it could be the thing with teeth