Rougarou, An Online Journal | Current Issue

Julie WallaceFathomingshe went to work on Monday,
opening and closing the store.

afterwards, she walked the pier as
crackling wind crossed the lake.
she did not fear. whitecaps broke
and she slipped inside, drifted to the bottom.
she danced as plant-life, no direction,
no purpose, no intent, no regrets.
her body developed scales and gills,
and she glided through Lake Huron.

she went missing, then unnoticed,
a fleeting lifetime, disappearance of fate—
a swim in the right direction.

she reached Niagara, tumbled gleefully.
fully formed fins propelled her along Seaway.
she breached Outer Banks, plunged
with pleasure into the depths of Chesapeake.

her eyes could see through darkness,
skin vibrated the heartbeat of humanity
she was not on ground, but she
was of the ground, of the water.

she swam towards warmer waters,
paused for directions from dolphins.
exhausted, she washed ashore near the Keys,
shed scales and gills, became whole again.

she returned to work on Tuesday, as if
the journey had always and never happened.