1. Jetsam
It’s as if the reeds remember they were once chains
And the water, restless, wishes it could spew all of the slaves and ships
onto shore
Their tears are what have turned the ocean salty
This is why our irises burn every time we go under
Every December 16th, December 24th and December 31st
Our skin retraumatises the sea
They mock us
instrumental in trying to execute our extinction
For you, the ocean is for surf boards, boats, tans
And all the funky stuff you do under there in your bathing suits and
goggles
– Extract from Water, by Koleka Putuma