Caught fast on the littoral
Sessile on the beach
Entangled in the flotsam
Close to land that's out of reach
A hermit crab approaches
To make my mouth its home
My bones disintegrating
To dust and sandy loam
Barnacles are resident
Along my crumbling spine
A fine replacement backbone
In an orderly blue line
Patiently awaiting
The tide to turn about
To wash up on the shore
And gently float us out
Magnesium and briny balm
Replenishing the cells
If I can't stand on dry land again
Perhaps the sea will suit me well
Read by Katie Ash
FLOATSAM has been previously published in Wordgathering.
Paula Knight is an author, former illustrator and comics creator. An extract of her graphic memoir, The Facts of Life (Myriad 2017), was shortlisted in Myriad’s inaugural First Graphic Novel Competition. She has worked extensively as a children’s illustrator and has written three children's picture books. Her poetry has been published at Wordgathering, and a poem took third place in the World Curlew Day Poetry Competition. No longer able to draw due to severe energy impairment disability, she sought new creative mediums. Her work explores chronic illness, the natural world and her exile from it. Website: http://www.paulaknight.co.uk Twitter: @Paula_JKnight IG: @paulajkstudio