Image: Alessio Albi
You never liked the notion of
Head above water….
You feared the notion
Give a person enough rope…
And yet you never deserted
You never gave up,
Though some days you stepped way back.
I thought of us as safe
In control, aware
But the bottom fell out
Our confidence tested
Unwarranted
Not understood
We stumbled and fell….
The water lapped around us
Threatened to drown us
But we are our own security
Seeing in each other
A strength
No one can impinge on.
So we stopped,
Treaded water
Awaited a turn in the tide
Swam forward
Found calmer waters.
Ever vigilant
We look towards the distant light
Praying we get there
Before nature intervenes.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/photo-challenge-120/
I kinda feel like that everyday sometimes. But head above water is fine…just so long as you’re not going down for the third time 🙂
Well as you know sometimes you feel that is closer than you’d like it to be…lol
Oh my, that’s good.
Thank you….take care Stella…..hope the 4th July celebrations are not to loud where you are…
It was quite booming, got on my nerves a bit…but the televised fireworks display from Seattle made up for it: 23 minutes of “starbursts” and great music to accompany them 🙂 It’s a fave holiday of mine, and my heart was full to brimming tearful.
Well that’s lovely to hear….
Yes 🙂
Treading water, trying not to let go and drown. must be one of the most terrifying feelings. I have felt like that often. Your poem expresses it so well, Michael.
Thanks so much Kim…
Having almost physically drowned once, and emotionally and mentally drowning all the time, I really felt this poem — a visceral description of not finding bottom to push off from (almost drowning in a tidal river as a child) and trying to keep “afloat,” long enough to reach solid ground again (me as an adult with mental illness.)
We look towards the distant light/Praying we get there/Before nature intervenes.
I have ever confidence that you will both get there together.
Thank you my friend….have a good day…
I shall certainly try . . . Have a good night’s sleep.
There is hope that waves and bobs through this piece, which is a good thing. Sometimes it’s really so damn hard to know, really know, that things will be okay. And sometimes, all that there is for it, is to hang tough and tread water – hopefully without getting too tired or worn down. Lovely, reflective piece Michael 🙂
Great poem reflecting the ups and downs and struggles to keep looking up to get through life.
Wow ==== awesome!
Thank you so much and thanks for following my blog.
Really like this one, Michael…dark but with a bit of hope.
Thanks Cathy, we always need hope…
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Beautiful Michael. I love how they are their own stability and find waters where they both can support each other and be together. Great metaphor.