And as she moved, without the need for something as unsophisticated as a thought, she let the world trickle through her nerves and into her brain. Scent motion sound taste sight snatched out of the water live and wriggling and helpful.
She heard a splash.
She felt the thrash of flailing limbs.
She smelt blood.
Just a little baby oh what a nice baby.
Go on hold her! Well I think I will why hello there look at you look at the world isn’t that nice!
Oh she’s lovely such a nice quiet baby-
-doesn’t cry at all won’t keep you up at night eh haha
-already learning to walk bless her. Teething yet?
No but soon enough-
Carcharodon carcharias, an unprompted stranger’s wish
a fin in the water, grows to strong from weak
the smile so nice they named it twice
(it means ‘sharpen,’ from the greek)
It’s not proper for a young girl to spend so much time with fishermen-
-well her father’s a fisherman it’s near enough-
-yes she’s much too interested. Prudence! You’ve got to teach her to be-
-can’t fault the dear for trying not like she hasn’t made her mark on the girl. Thrift is a virtue and you see her practice it she’s up all evening cutting up-
-yes the coupons from the day’s papers they’ll wrap fish in it but it’s a wife’s job to save the important bits.
And she’ll be a lovely wife I’m sure. Just so long as she keeps in mind her future and-
Carcharodon carcharias, shaded and anonymous
grey body in a bright blue world
dark from beneath given form with teeth
white against the belly, tightly furled
-Out for blood she was! My Jenny never so much as-
-No words for it! She won’t set foot back in that school until we hear-
-not so much her fault if she’d cried what with what the others said about her but to go and-
No excuse for it! None at all! A lady would have turned up her nose a pig would’ve stooped to words but only a-
-let her stay down by the docks if she’s not fit for humans rot with the salt and brine and keep company with-
Carhcarodon carcharias, cool-headed deadliness
warm heart cold to the seal-pup’s bleat
mouth meant for killing, with flesh ever-filling
but there’s more to life than meat
Well it’s a shock and a shame what she’s done and been a wonder she’s still in town. Knew she was that way since birth well that family who can blame her but-
-It’s no wonder he left. Oh she flaunted it were any of them really his? Or his! Or his! Mark my words she brought it upon-
-And she wouldn’t hear a word of it! As if I were talking to a stone when all I said was common decency and she just gave me that look that horrible awful look-
-like her eyes are baring teeth I swear-
-not so much as a speck of remorse! Doesn’t shrink to meet your eye and in the street she holds her head straight as if she weren’t-
Carcharodon carcharias, honest or over-brisk?
don’t ask the old and infirm!
either way, well who’s to say?
too busy swimming to confirm
Who’s that-
-don’t point don’t ask-
-does she have a family I haven’t seen her in-
-lives on that boat don’t ask again let her cut her coupons in peace there’s no-
-ought to be a law against it homeless kinless vagrants make this town-
-she’s got kids-
-oh and where are they eh where are they all over town in whose houses huh?
-can’t believe any of them found matrimony can’t believe anyone was willing to wed a-a pup of that creature.
-bet she couldn’t name a dad for all the wine in-
-shhh shut up she’ll hear-
-she hears she doesn’t care shut your mouths anyways-
-yeah but what happened to that one girl eh? And Harry last week he said she didn’t care and where’s he gone?
-You’re crazy she’s crazy she’s-
Carcharodon carcharias, older than blood and piss
scarred as a cobblestone wall
takes a nipping and keeps on clipping
they’re only love bites, after all
Don’t throw that! She’s got eyes in the back of her-
-heard the last boy to foul her lines was never seen again you say that now and I swear my friend’s brother’s friend said-
-she’s got special scissors y’know and she never stops sharpening them and she’ll snip off your-
-not natural. Spends more time on salt than shore she’ll end up-
-never talks never shows an interest no friends no business beyond a dock and a catch to sell what kind of person is-
Carcharodon carcharias, mistress of true bliss
same prey, same tricks, same hunt
can sense the world just fine running up your spine
it’s omniscience for the things that count
The boat’s empty.
It’s what?
It’s empty.
I heard it floated back in, what happened?
I don’t know. No body. Fell over, maybe? Too old to get back in.
She never wore a jacket. Maybe that’s it.
Well, good riddance. We won’t see her again.
No. We won’t.
Feels strange, been around since my granny was a little thing.
Now she’s in the locker, and your kids won’t have a devil to scare them anymore.
Neither will the catch. You’re just jealous. Never did like that she could triple your haul on a sick day.
Shut up!
Well, either way she’s fish food and now there’s nothing for them to be scared of but-
Carcharodon carcharias, gentle as a mother’s kiss
can’t even feel the touch
watch the land as it burns while the wide sea turns
they love little, but fear so much
Carcharodon carcharias, Carcharodon carcharias
sharp and quiet and clean
there is no spite when you take your bite
black eyes on a calm shagreen