J'ai habité l'instant flexible
             I lived in the flexible moment
                     —Samira Negrouche

​
I have entered 

five     fevered     days
swim in my salty skin

the sea awaits  
will take me when--

eyes gliding over
                            undulant teal skin

           hot temples 
           thick terraced air

lines stunted       half-born
I dig them out with a flat stone
                           old shoe
   
aging is a fractured         glass door
                                       I step 
                                       through
Sharon Dolin is the author of seven poetry books, most recently Imperfect Present; a memoir entitled Hitchcock Blonde; and two books of translation, most recently Late to the House of Words: Selected Poems by Gemma Gorga. Her new book of translations of Gemma Gorga, Voyage to the Center, will be published in 2027. Dolin is Associate Editor of Barrow Street Press and teaches poetry workshops in New York City. https://sharondolin.com