ferry

we find our blankets and sleeping blocks
identified by number
the ferry is big enough for all of us but it
must puff up like a blowfish we must
make like bamboo
three trees equal forest

but people here are in the thousands
an annexing of zeroes         dollars exchanged for yen

the ship restaurant
is converted into sleeping quarters
tables pushed to the sides              roped to the walls
it will be days before we see land
so we line up for bento

spend too much on vending machines
lined with plastic bottles of tea
packaged by coca-cola

on deck
we watch a dolphin mount a wave
count computers as they float by
we are wearing this ship
it hangs from our shoulders in elegant folds
we bodysurf the waves

                                    shark

                                                                                                                              to whale
                                                        to octopus

against a backdrop of cut-outs of volcanoes

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