the day I turned my back on all you people

I felt an itching in my thumbs.

the salt air like a broadcast from the distant, dark beyond

when my transformation comes.



I went down to the warm, warm water

saw a pelican fly past

waved once at the highway and then left all that behind me

I went wading through the grass.



and no one was gonna come and get me.

there wasn't anybody gonna know.

even though I leave a trail of burnt things in my wake

every single place I go.



and it was cool, and it was quiet

in the humid marsh down there.

i let my head sink down beneath the brackish water,

felt it gumming up my hair.



the sun was sinking into the atlantic

the last time that I turned my back on you.

I tried to summon up a little prayer as I went under

it was the best that I could do.



and I said,

"let them all fare better than your servant",

the reeds all pricking at my skin.

"here's hoping they have better luck than i had down here with you"

all that water rushing in.