For Siobhan

by Deidre Abrahamsson

Follow the sharp smell of sea water
and the sound of the waves
as they crash onto shore,
and you will find me.

Sidling sideways under the moonlight,
scurrying and scuttling.
Elusive.

You may want to grab hold of me.
You may want to slow me down,
to point me in a different direction.

But I snap at you. Pinch you. Hurt you.

You may want to find out where I am going.
You may want to bring me on your journey
or to come along on mine.

You may think that you have gotten a hold of me.
You may think that I am going with you,
that you have me by the hand.

I have deceived you again.
I scuttle madly away to the surf.

You have lost me.

I am lost in the night.
Alone with the moon.

But even she will leave me.

It is better that you don't get too close to me.
Yes. It is better that you don't even try.