Against the Glass

by Michael Dylan Welch, Margaret Rutley, and Sidney Bending

First published in Blithe Spirit 33:3, August 2023, page 59. Also published in Raining Rengay #2, October 2023. Written in April and May of 2020.

summer vacation—

the aquarium door handle

shaped like a seahorse Michael

mesmerized . . .

a bloom of lucent jellyfish Margaret

sticky fingers

the sea urchin twitches

in a touch tank Sidney

the look in its eyes

circling shark Michael

teenagers tap

against the glass

a cloud of octopus ink Margaret

asleep at sunset

two otters holding paws Sidney