Boots pressed rough dents

in muck     reeds bent by

weight born by quick steps

as a man’s hands slice lake

 

His plume breath ghosted

over slush whirl     a dragon

melting mirror as stunted claws

ripped reeds     tearing up hair

 

A twisting knot of fist     hoisted

up a woman     past breasts

down     to scaled curve of tail

cut to legs     broken by land

 

An undine     gulped a scream

and her throat closed     murmured

whimpers     backwards dragged

on naked back     as a man

weighed his catch 

​