To be bonded isn't pleasant. It's invi-
sible, sticky, ineluctable-lighter than

To be baptized in salty
waves was a surprise.
Daniel gripped the
white casting net in
his teeth; part of it
wrapped around me-
a white web over my
black skin: he cast me
out again and again.

To cry would cost him
dearly in the neck-the

tremendous power in
the neck. His bald,
perspiring head bent
intently forward:
never a more beautiful
Neptune.

At daybreak, lying on
the porch of Daniel's
cabin, we watched the
moon and sun. An
occasional rat snake

slid between the
floorboards to eat the
insects. The mosqui-
toes of Sénégal fly
low, seldom rising to
the level of the chest.

Is the kiss for each
person different? I
hoped to become a
virgin. Before the first

kiss, I practiced on my
wrist, over and over.

A house made of sea-
shells, and in my yard,
parakeets of all colors

flew, and monkeys
swung in the trees.

In a dugout canoe,
we explored the man-
grove swamps. We

discovered oyster beds
where we loved to dig
for hours.

Wind in my hair. Have
you met the love of-

sea foam, stronger than undertow.
One bathes there at risk, no lifeguard.
But without it, there is only death.

To be bonded isn't pleasant. It's invi- sible, sticky, ineluctable-lighter than

sea foam, stronger than undertow. One bathes there at risk, no lifeguard. But without it, there is only death.

To be bonded isn't pleasant. It's invi-
sible, sticky, ineluctable-lighter than

sea foam, stronger than undertow.
One bathes there at risk, no lifeguard.
But without it, there is only death.