Float
Pacific tides guide my kelp-tangled eyes to shore.
The violet tidal pools and barnacle–
studded rocks bear our name– the one the Earth sings to us.
Her name.
The roll and drag of tumbling waves
wrap around my ankles and sandy wrists. Periwinkle skies
dissolve into oceans and seas.
We are all made of each other.
We are the coast and sea otters and every one of the seven quintillion grains
of sand. We are the lavender dawn that coats the riptides and the hands
of those who love us most.
Ebony nights on the shore float
like seafoam; float like the salt that we keep
inside us.
This poem is from the book Warmly, The Wild by Emily Iris Degn (Finishing Line Press), and can be found at https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/warmly-the-wild-by-emily-iris-degn/
Emily Iris Degn is a multilingual nature poet and artist, eco-travel writer, photographer, fiction writer, climate journalist, and essayist. As an ecofeminist, she aims to tell stories grounded in Earth and themes of wildness. She is deeply inspired by the work of scientists, translating highly technical concepts through her craft to capture a holistic picture of what it means to exist in transforming, fleeting landscapes. Her writing has been nominated for the Best of the Net award and can be found in many places, including About Place Journal, Stonecrop, Capsule Stories, Lunch Ticket, Coffin Bell Journal, Coffee People, Salmon Creek Journal, and For Women Who Roar, among others. Emily is from the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest but grew up exploring the continent with her parents, four siblings, and dog. Emily has traveled widely, from living in the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil to backpacking through Iceland. She now lives in Seattle with her incredible partner Nick and their beloved book collection. When she isn’t writing or making art, she can be found kayaking, playing in the woods, or reading about outer space, owls, and other things that blow her mind. To follow along on her adventures, you can find her at @emilyirisdegn or @emfallstoearth on Instagram, or www.emilyirisdegn.com.
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