Dream with Policy

one rests in thought on a beach
before a uniformed figure

begins the nightstick beating
one tries to dodge and block
but does not flee—
no thought in pain—
until the uniformed figure
tires and switches hands

in that pause one runs into the surf
shots miss in waves and foam
one magazine is emptied and the next

the uniformed figure does not
splash into the tide
perhaps gone along the sand or inland
to impose an idea of order

one does not look back
but settles into strokes and breaths
toward no other shore
no desired state for now there is
only swimming swimming