Waves

by Sally Butler

It starts slowly, softly, surely

slightly, lightly, loosely, lowly

rhythmic lulling, gently pulling

easing, teasing, pleasant, pleasing.

Quiet rasping, gasping, grasping, greedy, needy

heady, heedy. Heavy, hugging, tugging, chugging,

choking, churning, twisting, turning.

Tearing, raring, ripping, roaring,

rushing, pounding, pouncing, pawing.

Pushing, gushing, gripping, gashing,

suffocating, splitting, splashing.

Crashing, crushing, cutting, culling,

killing, thrilling, spilling, sprawling

sprouting, springing, spiring, soaring

foaming, forceful, rising, falling.

–it’s aggressive and oppressive, drags you under, it’s possessive

and you cannot leave, you cannot breathe, it will not let you out but

It starts slowly, softly, surely…

BIO

Sally Butler is a poet from the North of England whose work explores modern narratives, musicality and rhythm. She spends her free time practising stoicism and pensively staring out of rainy windows.