Hula-La

Thought he heard whispering outside the diving bell…
Sounded like his little sister laughing
(when she was lying with the glass snakes in the yard —
When she was smiling over pretty cakes)
High above on the bright side of the tether
The captain breaks into a shore-leave-grin
He thought the swishing of her grass skirt sounded like whispering
Sounded like, «Hush, now.» Hula-la
The clouds were lit from the inside
Flickered like jack-o-lantern light
She was breathing smoke rings like little lassoes
He was bobbing like a bird on the edge of his glass
Far below on the quiet end of the tether
He blinks his lids under the crush of green water…
The murky glow of the candles on a cake…
Hears the hum of «Hush, now.» Hula-la