Barrel of Dreams

My dreams 
      koi
swimming idly
     in the weathered 
          oak barrel
     wedged
         in the sand 
 at your shoreline
your persistent waves 
  break 
 hungrily
      against the grain
salty mist
    softens
      my edges
if I crack
       tip
   or break
     please don't 
    try drowning 
 the weakest 

feed 
    the strongest
   and realize 
     my dreams
      were in you
        all along
and just maybe 
      I'll realize
  how much deeper

 you are
               than your tides.