Of every sort, in which the estuary grew: 
slipknot ridges with pallets of blue
hundreds of bridges, of which no one knew
pilchards prance to cesspool sprue—
a universe, a planet, a river unrest,
a tale of scales and mystique
Of pariahs, both odd and unique

Of every sort, in which the estuary grew:
ebb and flow met brine and inlet 
ether and flower met isle and net
Mudflat became marsh and
unprincipled, an undertow

Of every sort, in which the estuary grew:
the rivers and oceans began life anew 
Crawdads, abalone, and barracuda too
A great migration—
such a sudden ablation

Children became mermaids, 
mermaids become men