I’m not saying I’d burn a man
for claiming otherwise—

just that after two days
of watching the horizon

I might break a telescope—
call it witchcraft, blasphemy.

It is only growing up inland
that saved me—

Suburban Maryland
is a gullible place.

Now I am older and staring
at the ocean and all I can say is:

Flat— the line where the water ends is flat.