She'd always cut him open

like the gut of a fish

and she dipped him slowly into the rapid

until he was fully drenched

But his wounds were always skin deep

that was what he told us

and the water, flowing, cleaned him out

and the salt purified his veins

she set him straight, she did

Sometimes he'd come by my place

water logged and bleeding

but he'd smile all the same, without a single word

the ocean had filled his lungs