 
        
        
      
    
    Melanie Margarita Kirby
THE SEA OF SHADOWS
the sea of shadows
 lanky lisps
 willow oh billow over this grave
 of soft-spoken wings with messages                                                 of me 
Baby’s breath by the roadside                                             underwater pews
 and a psalm for the war on fish                                             schooling by these books                                                                       of words and worms
Pisces versus a world ignored and right under my feet the deepest mystery
the Massive 
Narrow Straits of a once faint sun                                                   ten days under the sea
and a paradise is born
an island’s promises and perils                                                        and me-                                                                                                   the Belly of the Beast 
The minimal wealth                                                                          water from heaven-                                                                            sent down-cold blue                                                                             my sea dies and                                                                                     the monsoon rains                                                                         depart my MidAtlantic battle                                                      untamed growth
 and kelp the size of beanstalks 
The richest realm not up high nor down below
 but billowing-
 oh willow over this grave                                                                     of soft-spoken messages of me
Baby’s breath by the roadside
Melanie Margarita Kirby (she/her) is a Nectar Nomad, a poetess, a consilience researcher, entomologist, beekeeper, ceramicist, aspiring photo-journalist, and a mother of Tigua/Apache+ heritage from New Mexico. She co-founded ziaqueenbees.com to breed and share regionally-adapted bees. She is also an international consultant, a former U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, and a Fulbright-National Geographic Fellow. To read about her adventures, visit nectarnomad.org. She believes we are all caretakers of creation and encourage everyone to Live the Life You Love and Love the Life you Live! ziaqueenbees.com | @ ziaqueenbees
 
                        