by Claire Lipkin

remedy

this is how she came to us:

 

a heartbroken girl dove into the depths

and placed a pearl on her tongue.

 

she sealed it behind her lips,

a promise from the sea.

 

inside her bowels, the pearl boiled 

and wept tears of acid.

 

that night, clothed in dream-fog 

and swimming in seafoam,

 

venus emerged.

 

with the first rosy streaks of dawn,

she was made godly anew.