by Veronica Troup

her mother-self dissolved O o
in a shimmer of flying fish 0 -
arms belly hair tendrilled o O

  she became					         o -    
 	      amongst their silver fins  			          0o      
     a rare shock of magic 		                        oo  O

welcomed back to skin Oo
after years 0o
of holding 0 -

a kindy class fluoresced on shore 0o
squeals tinnied above o- O
glint-wrapped scales o

she conjured her boys o o
knees in sand, wave shy o 0
small hand pocketed offerings 0- oo
smooth fairy glass O
for the kitchen window sill Oo

she does not miss O o
those lonely days o0
of tangled need - oO

her body coalesced o 0
under that flitted sea-arch o
as the fish returned from air 0o
dived deep, lost in light oo-0