doors opened up

like broken fish beneath the stones
or scattered hornets above the elderly

like couples spreading wide their terrible arms
their yellowing teeth or strangers

confusing one implacable touch with another
the ocean spilled dead

the women

confused by their loneliness

the women had scattered
they pressed themselves
against the moon

but no one approached
please  please
how their voices had fallen

a terrible silence—
such cold immense absence
that the hornets had left

the women
clung to their baskets
they went willingly

to that ocean of strangers
beyond the turquoise
where waters opened
into waters