SCALES

Here they come
strong arms swinging twig legs from crutches
their beacon the moonlight on my safety jacket
a port of sticks and wash  
the swinging bridge a cross over
razor shells cuttle scales
scales of distant nightclubs singing  
A rope I hold on stiff with salt
waiting in kerosene lamp light  
shark smiles pitch black white eyes spiders back
the scuttle of crab shadows across the dune
to carry my luggage over  
drains of shit spilling with the tide and monsoon puddles
bellow deep and low before the blue
with nothing to sell except guilt
for their wars and their daughters and beer
I want lager and have a daughter
want warmth and water  
And love for we are human too.