Nautilus twist in their perpetual arc 

as tossing salt waves tumble ashore, foaming

greens. A seagull hovers

motionless / spearheading

everything ebbing and expanding

where I am surrendered on purpose

floating face up in the open faced blue

to the open faced blue

sunbeams emitting from one

solstice maypole.

Where I do trust the celestial sea god

who lets me breathe

underwater. Where everything is made of diamonds;

breaking and oxidizing beneath the coastline—

their dainty shattering like an applause.

The shore drifts closer,

the shadowed yellowed sand

and its dull throb, it’s tangled sea mass

briny and crystalizing where the tide

departed. Couldn’t get my attention if you

wanted; peaceful in my aphasia.

Beyond the horizon, an infinite line

where the waves transpire.

Em Schwager is a Jewish queer poet from Pittsburgh who is currently based in Philadelphia. She recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania majoring in nursing and minoring in creative writing.