Now let come two who are chainedin hand, in heart. Two who, as dowry,offer a forever without end. Albatrossand gannet circle on high, pealinglike carillon bells. The white oak gunwaleshredded by rabid brine: your broom to jump.What sharks do not clamor in the surfcommune under the hull, waiting to adornyour necks with gum-sprung pearls. The wavesweave an aisle of white horses and foam;upon it, flowery seagrass floats. Come,while the billows surge, the froth softand warm. While foul minds lie blank.A body of water is, in the end, but a fieldin which you cannot be shackled. Knowyourselves, now, as but souls clothedin skin, saying I do in refusal, as oneabove the arched break. The skim waxes.The altar glistens, starlit. The cowries reel,throw themselves at your feet. Be now bluemaroons. Unbound by time or tradition,you took vows a fortnight ago: a sightless swearuttered in dungeon murk. A promise madebefore a thousand sighing silhouettes.Remember the gaze you learned to trustabsent light, how it returns yourswith equal urgency. How you studiedyour betrothed’s face with your thumbs—a love that knows no blind faith is noneat all. A love that knows nothingbut ocean is one they cannot drown.