When the Whitewater Thickens

between waves woven

so tight they bury the

wreckage,

trust the current to breathe

you to the surface

& catch the breath in the split

second between breaks

before

brine heaves

let the salt sting,

a sky so swollen

asphyxiates, let the wind

out of your lungs

let it wail,

hammer against the bluffs,

the ocean has never been afraid

to rage.

Nicole Bethune Winters is a poet, writer and multi-faceted artist. Her first collection, brackish, was published by Finishing Line Press, and her work has appeared in Backlash Journal, Wild Roof Journal, and Seaborne Magazine. When she isn’t writing or wheel-throwing, Nicole is likely at the beach, on a trail, climbing, or exploring new landscapes with her dog. She currently resides in Southern California, where she works as a full-time artist from her home studio.