The Jacquestown Settlement vanishes

Leaving only the unexplained message

'Gone to Croatan'

Goodwin

In your arms

I remember

The sea in your arms

Starfish sea hearts

At your hips

Falling cliffs in your thighs

Moon tide waves

Ribs of lost ships

Wrecks washed

By silver neap sands drifting

Sea wash anchor drag

Across our coral fingers

Locked and scraping

Where they touch

Cargo chests wrenched open

And reefs of bones

Polyp tentacles stretched

Into your arms

From my splintered hull

In your arms

I hear gulls

At the wake

Of our sailings