Low tide or high, nobody knows

I’m responsible for regurgitating the sea

—anxious black hair an ample anemone.

Is anyone listening?

Fingers pruney, apricot

trachea hoarse,

careened neurons

braided scoubidou,

bipolar, young & fated.

The Mariana Trench titillates me.

There, two giant squids tango

“加油!”¹—promulgating glee.

Urchin to urchin,

dust to dust, tobiko blood cells,

irate Earth’s crust.

Treacle barnacles dogpile my ankles,

insist I turn my pain pretty

—喂? 这是谁? ²

Gut to gut, lust to lust

séance impending,

neverending.

Language turns into orca sounds,

my cells ascend, bubble rings abound.

¹ Literally means “add oil,” metaphorically means “keep going!”

² “Hello? Who is speaking?”

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Emdash AKA Emily Lu Gao (高璐璐) is a bipolar writer, open mic host, and daughter of Chinese immigrants. They write to help them heal, grow, and decolonize. Her work is published in Underblong, sine theta, poetry.onl, Mochi Magazine, Split Magazine and more. They’re also a 2023 Best of the Net nominee in poetry and flash fiction. When not writing, she is likely telling one too many jokes or watching drag queens. Find out more at emdashsays.com.