https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg_8L96E3eU
There’s a trouble with water.
It can be all life giving today
But take your soul the next.
In the middle of the night I find myself
Up to my knees in a raging torrent
Walking striding against the flow
The current dragging me back.
Ahead lies an unknown future
But better than where I’m coming from.
Behind me is torment and ridicule
A life in shackles
Where I do not exist
Where my worth is zero.
I wake with a start
Perspiration soaks my clothes
Another nightmare
Another struggle
I sit up, take stock
See and understand
The reoccurring metaphor.
My confinement is over
There is a tomorrow
Where freedom beckons
But all my strength is needed
To reach the point of hope.
There’s a trouble with water
It cleanses your soul one day
Soils you the next
Making you unrecognisable.
It’s all about knowing
Where to put your feet.
Morpethroad 
Gosh, that’s a soulful and powerful piece of writing.
Thank you Suzanne you are very kind.
Wow, poignant and powerful, Michael!
Thank you Joy
Another nightmare
Another struggle
I sit up, take stock
See and understand
My confinement is over
There is a tomorrow
Where freedom beckons
But all my strength is needed
To reach the point of hope.
This is a wonderful piece Michael – the duality of water very clearly made in a way that is flowing. And for me personally – these two bits – are the strength of this piece – they fit together like life and death, darkness and light, fear and suffering and hope. It’s all about the duelistic nature (yes that is deliberate) that we all face. Well done 🙂
Thank you Pat your comment is always welcome and appreciated.
Very thoughtful and thought- provoking poem. I find it fascinating how something like water can be both life-giving and both detrimental to the speaker. Hope his nightmares go away and that water doesn’t hurt him anymore.
Thank you Mandi I had this reoccurring dream for some time after I left my marriage….thanks again for your supportive comment.
Wow. Your poem reminds me of an important moment in my life: the day I lost my home, neighborhood, town and school the year I turned sixteen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Red_River_flood_in_the_United_States
Wow Rose that must have been a terrible time. I take it at the time you lived in East Grand Forks? We have had flood here over the years the worst was in 1955 when it came within 2inches of the floor of my house. It was a great prompt to play with. Thanks so much for your comment….
It was an experience that will never be forgotten. Despite all the destruction, no one was injured or killed in the two towns.
A question: Would you be willing to check out “A Dash of Sunny” on FB and vote for the next theme for her poetry prompt?
https://www.facebook.com/events/462932220579298/permalink/492952090910644/
Ok see what I can do..
Thank you
Just to let you know that page wasn’t available to me…
Are you on Facebook at all? She has a FB page under Sanaa Rizvi
I’ll check it out..