Emily Brochin

Calligram           

                               in   the

                          lit           o 

                        rose-

                     cursed

                  waters we

                rowed the boat

             as far as the edge of

           night. she used the north

         star and marlin-wake to steer.

      we left the drowned to the mermaid

   kiss and the seaweed to the collectors’ tin.

dawn broke as an egg over the unstoppable hull. faster.