Phonics

This word, an island. Uncharted, viney, but big enough to stand on. And seductive, its siren's song of diphthongs and mangroves. A change in the current, and her ship, built of hard C's, of long E's, bumps and bounces and lurches toward the coast. There's a moment of panic, of salt and reflection, and then she crashes, beautifully, upon the shore.