whales enmeshed in drift nets

fifty miles long
the open ocean had no breakers. the floats
swell and the weights
dangle

in the sea
whole classes of creatures
scarcely even move

at night translucent feeders rise
and sift among the lowest rigging
oh, and dreams
are stories that would drink up

oceans
 but even
   behemoths
     must breath
       as every breeze knows
         as every wind blows
           this is what they rose for

sardines
are their own
form of whale
enmeshed before the nets
dropped

the sea has always been its own god
deep things always will
for the unexpected catch of darkness
blind fish with flash of red
smooth and ugly
flesh
turn you believer

whales enmeshed in drift nets sing angry songs
fifty miles long
to the surface, the high place
the air, the light, the light