The Ocean

I lay in bed

The waves wash over me

I’m drowning

Deep in the cool dark water

“We all live down here,”

They whisper to me

“We live and breathe and love.”

Their bodies shimmer

I reach out to them

They shrink away

My ugly, bold fingers float out before me

They stretch to reach

But grasp hold of nothing

I float, I sink

I’m alone,

Surrounded by shimmering lights

I lie on the sand bank

My body slowly dies

I hear their voices

They call for me

Their bodies are close,

But their voices are on some distant shore.

“Come with us,” they gently sing.

“We will love you

We will teach you

To breathe, to love, to live.”

I close my eyes

Their lilting chanting fills my ears

I feel myself slowly wash away

My body dissolves

I am part of the ocean

My arms stretch wide

I touch each shore

My body rolls and bubbles

With the ripping pulling of the tide

I am happy now

I feel safe.