SaltWater Empress of the Night

I swim up from the seaweed 

mangrove-gray-green crown 

on my head, a SaltWater Empress 

for the Night. I haunt these

islands, catch all the eye of the

tempted 

to be free & fruitful & shameless, 

make them suck my bitter tits 

make them swim on the rough side

make them sin & never count the

Cost of joining me at night. & every

day I command my children 

in remembrance of me: 

“suck ma bitter, 

blue-black skin,” 

as their teeth sink purple 

into flesh of sea grapes, 

the true fruit of my womb 

press, the sea-salt-wine 

of my body & blood 

into the heart of the city, 

to bless & crown that dead-coral 

empress, in my blood.