Ode to the bath

At Christin­a’s in Hol­land (yay!!!). 2.17am. Just had first ser­i­ous long, hot bath since leav­ing Aus­tralia. Some of you may know me and baths. Anyhow…

bath scene in white, purple and blue

for niels bijl, who ran the bath

I am heat and sap-riddled
slug­gish pulse through skinsack
breath comes shal­low, slow
there is steam­heat in my drumthrob
chest, water­heat on my sweatbrow
feet hung limpid over tub-edge
taking in air like a dog’s tongue.
the ocean­foam is like skyclouds
i soak in cen­tur­ies: blueazure like mosaic,
indigo like dye, violet star­shape leaks
lav­ender oils, creamy beads of sandalwood
and ylang kiss my sur­face like fish.
my soap is pale lilac, the scrubpuff alabaster.
phrases seep from my fingerlips
escape in the saun­adamp swampmind
i am heat and sap-riddled, sluggish.