What I Did On My Spring Break

Poetry, Abigail Ray

We drove the coastline until it stopped looking like a painted set 

All blue and golden with the 

red highlights along the highway 

We visited two lighthouses and a far off planet 

Your eyes watched the sea, and mine 

watched the road, but caught glimpses of you when I could 

We made love in a poet's room 

Her eyes watching 

Like the patron saint of strap-ons and dilated pupils 

we saw four sunsets. Each better than the

last 

I raced the sun and your hair blew out the window 

Like some Alder bough

all moss and chestnut 

We smoked on the beach and I tried hard to keep my heart in my chest as you 

pointed out the By-The-Wind-Sailors

in their iridescent shades of opal and azul

You wore my poorly made hat and my jacket that fits you like a paper bag 

Your hands were cold 

And your nose was red

I was dressed to the nines in my Canadian tuxedo —- all raw denim and stolen glances 

The perfect all-American boy 

You kissed me when I said I find God when

I look at the sea 

I kissed you when you said I'm the first person you’ve met who feels music the way you do 

We ate halibut and big brownie sundaes 

feasting on salty pleasure 

You told me about the fish at the aquarium while I had a panic attack because we got too high

I took a polaroid of you looking out at the sea at night 

Seeing God, I assume. 

You took a polaroid of me in the bed we made our home away from home

I'd never looked better, and probably 

never will again.

You asked me to be your girlfriend 

Naked and lying on our stomachs 

In that bed 

The ocean a soundtrack to our conversation

I said "Yes" without hesitation.

I saw you in the afterglow 

the setting sun creating halos around your

face 

All orange and yellow 

coloring your freckles in shades of want.

I found you in the Devil's Punchbowl 

squinting up at the sun

wings tucked tightly to your body

You found me in the tide pools on strawberry hill

turning a high tide into a lagoon, 

my seafoam locks shining copper despite the waves

living out my selkie dreams. 

For you,

I will leave my coat folded up tightly in the shade of your nest any day

I wear it cropped but it fits you oversized

and billowy 

My outline extricated from myself,

cocooning you in the shoulder seam that hangs loose near your elbow 

Let the green of my threads marinate, 

I swear you can feel the lull of the tides in the way the fabric moves along your body 

the ebb and flow consistent with the way I hold you.

---

Abigail Ray (she/her) lives in Portland, Oregon and draws a lot of inspiration from the city, its residents, and the surrounding natural areas. She recently graduated from Portland State University with her BS in English and writing. She enjoys watching cartoons, playing with her oversized dog, and reading and writing in her spare time. Find her on IG @abisnail17.