I had a shark dream last night.
My Father, as he was back when
I was the child in the dream
was at the helm of the craft,
more a pontoon raft with our
outboard astern,loaded with relatives
and many, many more kids than
ever existed in my family.

We motored to Twin Rocks,
best black bass fishing on the
Long Island Sound of my childhood.
I hopped from the bow to the rocks,
turned to take the line, tossed by
one of the others, but, in the
brief time it took to turn,
the gap between the boat and me
grew to twenty feet and in the water between,
there they were-
gliding over the rocks,
snapping teeth at ripples,
hammerheads, whites, blues, makos.

I was safe on the rock.
The boat was safe on the water,
unless some enthusastic mako
attacked a pontoon,
yet father was trying to bring
the boat to the rock,
but the waves the sharks made
and the tide now rising at
an unnerving rate kept the boat away.
Then, a shark shaped like the fat Souix
Jerimiah Johnson did not kill
dolphined on his fin to sing
a song to me.
He was smiling, showing his teeth.
The words were wierd, but I recognized them.
They were the words the Souix sang
about today being as good as any day to die.
Dad made a last rush to the rocks.
He hung up on an outcrop.
He yelled,”Come on! Jump! It’s not far! Jump!”
I saw fins everywhere…
A quick lunge and I was on the boat.

As the music creshendoed from behind the screen,
Dad revesed engines, swung round,
raced away from Twin Rocks.

As lights came up in the theatre,
loud applause came from the audience.
The actors were getting a standing ovation,
especially the actor who sang the song,
standing on his fin.
The human actors were also applauded
for their supporting roles.

The audience was comprised of Hammerheads,
Whites, Blues, Makos..

I woke, got out of bed, stumbled to my desk,
opened my check book, paid my rent and
American Express bills.
I was going to the beach that day.

I didn’ want to take any chances.