pool

floating on the bottom below twelve feet
sounds have disappeared and light is scarce, dark
the refraction of sunlight, the muted world
that magical place below the surface
refused to follow me down below, cold
and lonely and dark and silent, down

the pressure on my ears and lungs, it hurts
the sudden lack of warmth has left me numb
the mask fallen off my face has left blind
in a world that had already gone dim
as I float on the bottom below twelve feet

I want back up, between the dark and light
so gathering courage and strength long gone
clawing my way up through water to thick
with breath long gone and light but memory
it exists, I should know, been there before
breaking the surface with a gasp, a cry
open eyes, then I happily sink

just below the refraction of sunlight
in a world where I was meant to be