I walked down to the sea in the early morning br after a long insomniac night. br br br I climbed over the giant gull-colored rocks br and moved past the trees, br tall dancers stretching their limbs br and warming up in the blue light. br br br I entered the salty water, a penitent br whose body was stained, br and swam toward a red star rising br in the east—regal, purple-robed. br br br One shore disappeared behind me br and another beckoned. br I confess br that I forgot the person I had been br as easily as the clouds drifting overhead. br br br My hands parted the water. br The wind pressed at my back, wings br and my soul floated over the whitecapped waves.