Eager blades rise like waves,
tightly coiled for the depths below,
where dark waters twist and tumble
fraught to maintain such great heights
until gravity’s anchor drags them back to the undertow

Those fangs sink in through the scales,
stopping only covetously for the bone.
The venom it sends rushes to unknown ends,
a curious tide trespassing secret coves
echoing haunted laughter in sunless geometry.

The other beast strikes back in reflected anger,
rushing its aggressor like a gull caught in a gust;
sharp salt sea breeze cutting the sun,
fracturing the blue canvas with a searing light
before plunging again into the familiar stream.

Two currents opposed to form a whirlpool,
neither willing to give any ground to the other,
flowing ribbons of water; ocean waves,
burrowing against the earth and rising against the sky.
For the want to live, they both will die.