In the Atlantic Ocean she found
the animals sensitive
to light, vibration, and touch.
The plume worm blossoms
sucking themselves in
when a hand passed over.
In bed it was a different
story. She would find the worm
and its tentacles and pull
them out one long sea
thread at a time.
From Rodent Angel (New York University Press, 1996) by Debra Weinstein. Copyright © 1996 by Debra Weinstein. Used with the permission of the author.