Selkie by R S Kendle

Selkie

keening of seals

drifts in through haar

between neap tides,

nacre-gleam of pale skin

trammelled by desire.

heavy limbs drag

trail of sand, scattered,

each swollen breath

waterlogged chest,

heart songs yaw north

dissolve into spoondrift,

amidst the wreckage of desire.

R S Kendle is a poet and creative practitioner from the north-east of Scotland. They hold a BA Honours in English Literature and Politics from the University Of Strathclyde. A winner of The Poetry Archive’s WordView 2023 competition, their work has been featured in several anthologies and digital publications, including Acropolis Journal, Free Verse Revolution, and The Winged Moon. Follow them on Instagram @rskendle.