Hard as stone, Mexico City
I measure you in cruise liners
far from the sea and hands wider
than the whole of Northumberland
grasping at clanking locks, the cats
in black bin bags are lost in their own
little world – warm and burly the night
light sea, I swear they dance
and what if the rooftop was not to keep
rain out? But to be bathed on, sun bathed
washed in light, watch the ants float by
I swear this is an ocean and I am learning to swim
Jack Little is the founding editor of The Ofi Press online literary journal from Mexico City. His debut collection Elsewhere is available here from Eyewear Publishing. Swimming Lessons was first published in Wasafiri.