patience

head down
snot streams out
shoulders
engaged in a delicate shuffle
near silent gasps
the only betrayal

a salt-coated
cell phone
crustaceous
cradled like a conch

cracks in the window
threatening to burst wide
a deep
cool
chill
carrying the sound
of ocean sighs
too deep for words

white malaise

canvas still shrink wrapped
letters
unfinished

settling in
for a stretch
that patience won't ease

screens and screens and screens
boxes of light
all i have to look at
all i have to wait for
lighting up
growing dim