breathing underwater
these ancients words waves
and these timeless thoughts
tides, and beacons…
my breath, my lament
(like blood and oxygen)
held tight in my chest
crushed by the familiar
finally rushes out
exposed expression
of an anguished soul
a suffocating heart
what was true for all
of All ‘neath the sun
was not true for me
me, here without air
cast careless away
(chummed over the side)
remnants of shame bubbling
out thru my clenched teeth
and sinking, drowning
praying for a whale
or even a school
of plankton-kissed breath
and against my will
my chest constricts, heaves,
bucks…glory oh glory
at last it’s true for me
and I am, finally
breathing underwater
Thank you for sending this to me. What beautiful and striking imagery-I could feel myself drowning beside you. Your timing (as always) is impeccable.
I am reading the “seal woman” chapter in Wolves, and your words could fit within that context, too.
So brilliant – the notion of being amphibious. Against your will until nature prevails. Gorgeous, my friend. Love you ❤️
omg LM…this connection to the seal woman is profound, for that chapter impacted me greatly. I can certainly see those seeds in the approach I took…and ALSO in the real life response to the situation that this poem sprang from. THANK YOU for that connection!
PS: you should have seen the early draft…it was about 5 times as long…and it just kept whispering to deconstruct, deconstruct…pare it down
The length on this was absolutely perfect – I remember thinking that I was reading. And yes…it was so cool to see the seeds from that chapter. I got goosebumps again just now!!xoxo