Blues

Blue is to the green algae skimming over a lake as

a mother’s fingernails are to her garden’s soil,

Blue is to green algae as

the fish in her koi pond

are to winter ice on top–

They’re all either dead or gone

or huddled at the bottom, close

to the muck and barely moving.

Blue is to the algae

as her receding gums are to the bony teeth

lingering, still visible much further down

in her mouth than should be.

A second, hidden object

underneath the surface

showing through in fits and shimmers only.

Half moon crescents, tail fin flecks

and scales and flips and flashes.

Blue is to asphalt as

a yellow moon is to

the cracked pavement below.