It's like swimming
at night
in the ocean
under heavy, thunderous clouds
and bouts of lightning.
Safely I swim
for a time
blanketed by heavy water
watching reflections
of brilliance above me-
beautiful to begin with
until the life of me
seeps from my lungs.
It's odd
and it's twisted
to drown beneath the surface
or
to die from one damp hand
(a casualty
of the electric downpour)
reached just above the waves.
Lungs burning for one breath
of air
amidst the chaos
amidst the storm.
The undercurrent
sucks me downwards
while i'm reaching for
an unknown heaven.
I know
I'd rather suffer
the bracing shock of air
crackling above me,
splintering bone
and seizing my body-
in a instant, be gone-
than die in peace and darkness
dragged beneath the sea.

04/15/2003

Author's Note: not as literal as it may seem...

Posted on 04/15/2003
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