Skip to main content
Poets.org

mobileMenu

  • Poems
  • Poets
  • Poem-a-Day
  • National Poetry Month
  • Materials for Teachers
  • Literary Seminars
  • American Poets Magazine

Main navigation

  • Poets.org
  • Academy of American Poets
  • National Poetry Month
  • American Poets Magazine

User account menu

  • Log in
  • Membership
  • Donate
Donate
Poets.org

2022 Ramon Feliciano Poetry Prize

Page submenu block

  • find poems
  • find poets
  • poem-a-day
  • literary seminars
  • materials for teachers
  • poetry near you

skinny dipping in mid-june, there are nightfishers on the beach

by Lily Darling

 

And the lights they use are red eyes staring back at us that blink in and out of consciousness from their judgmental tripods we run into the water with hands over our breasts, laughing as if there were some invisible crowd this solace after the storm that dredged up mounds of seaweed like piles of a woman’s hair, tangling in our toes and in this scene I would like to think that all of this island is a woman in the same way that god is (and all her ancient mothers call in the same song as the waves) “Let me stay here,” I want to say, in the thistle-whipped fire of the nightfishers’ red beams that vainly try to lure some greater force and the moon is cutting endless horizons into the sea’s languid face as the sand cups her cool hand against our wind-soaked shoulders, gently falling in love with the phosphorescence that turns our movements into soft and falling stars. A call, loud and mean, while flashes of light rise just over the beach grass to our backs the neighbor’s sons tumble towards us.

back to University & College Poetry Prizes

Newsletter Sign Up

Support Us

  • Become a Member
  • Donate Now
  • Get Involved
  • Make a Bequest
  • Advertise with Us

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • SoundCloud
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Footer

  • poets.org

    • Find Poems
    • Find Poets
    • Poetry Near You
    • Jobs for Poets
    • Literary Seminars
    • Privacy Policy
    • Press Center
    • Advertise

  • academy of american poets

    • About Us
    • Programs
    • Prizes
    • First Book Award
    • James Laughlin Award
    • Ambroggio Prize
    • Chancellors
    • Staff

  • national poetry month

    • Poetry & the Creative Mind
    • Dear Poet Project
    • Poster
    • 30 Ways to Celebrate
    • Sponsorship

  • american poets

    • Books Noted
    • Essays
    • Advertise
© Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038
poets .org