waters start rising
things seem okay, so we say
our backs to the waves
waters start rising
none colder, glancing over
riptide grows bolder
waters are rising
salted man plants feet in sand
rolling up his pants
waters are rising
more or less he holds his breath
he’s out of his depth
waters keep rising
watch him flail, witness him fail
sigh to no avail
watch us keep lying
all among traitorous tongues
brine enters our lungs
we don’t turn around
“not our ocean”, we expound
then shrug as we drown