Relief
Relief is that spot
in the marble tub
where the hottest part
of bubbled water
hits his spine softly.
He can breathe for now--
imagines his feet
covered in glacier
blue and turquoise scales.
His legs transfigure
into a merman’s
tail--gooey, shining.
His tail transports him
to a shadowed and
concealed cave in the
ancient, wide ocean.
In his cave the pink
Princess Anthias
fish knows him the best.
She brings him hot tea
and healing seaweed.
The turtles massage
his weary muscles;
the octopus naps
on a bed of clams;
The hot sand takes place
of the bathwater.
Alas, he is home.
Palmer Smith.
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