“Greatest Auntie strayed at Oncewas Bay br while Greatest Grandma played in the mudgrass marsh br fifty-four million years ago today. br br “Salted seagrass pepped the reef wind spray, br bluer water lured where the bayou branched br and Greatest Auntie strayed at Oncewas Bay. br br “A current spurred the wayward cow away, ” br said mother hippo sadly to her calf, br “fifty-four million years ago today.” br br Meanwhile, unbeknown to her, a whale br which basked with a calf, half a world apart br sang, “Greatest Auntie strayed at Oncewas Bay br br “and vanished in a maze of silted veins, br screened by fleshy reeds and clotted palms, br fifty-four million years ago today.” br br The whale and hippo sang the same refrain br because a oncewas reed tied heart to heart, br “Greatest Auntie strayed at Oncewas Bay br fifty-four million years ago today.” br br br Whippomorpha Vow br br Wild br Harps strung br In long throats br Pulse sliding scales; br Plangent liquid notes. br Oblique vocal folds mold br Melancholic melodies br Or percussive plaints. Hippo blows br Raspberries, bow and stern, to pan Whale’s br Poetry and Whale keens like a harpoon br Honed on steel. I’m their last common ancestor; br A small mammal, a small fossil now. But was my br Voice as pleasing as theirs? Just ask me. You’ll find me at br Oncewas Bay (which may have strayed) . I promise my bones will tell. br Wild harps strung in long throats pulse sliding scales; plangent liquid notes.