The theme : It is about someone who is drowning and it describes the steps of his body but also his mind.
"My rib cage was chaste.
It is the last wine.
Being a moist chest
won't let me opine."
The rib cage loses its virginity because of the water entering the lungs.It creates a "moist chest" because of humidity.
This water is the last thing he'll drink.It is consider like a wine because drowning enormously affect him and his thoughts.
Also,because of the intrusive water in his body,he couldn't talk.
"Now the mermaid
needs a mere aid.
I am cottony
in a small sea."
Cotton absorbs water so possibly sinks.
I'm sure there is a story/tale about a donkey crossing a water source with cotton then he sinks.
"The end is horrid and wet.
Will I be in a gazette?
I am so selfish and alone,
a fish of the aphotic zone."
He suddenly wonders if he will appear in the newspapers.He knows that he is "selfish and alone".
The aphotic zone is the part of ocean where there is no light. It can refer to the decay,the absence of purposes,the pathetic situation of the drowning man.
"The liquid glass is insidious,
a livid mass of invidious
ivy idly devouring me
and the foul tears I can not see."
"The liquid glass" and the "ivy" are the water.
His tears are foul because of the regrets but he can't even see them in water.
