Diving Lesson

Within the deep there's ticklish things
Writhing shapes, dark moving fins
And sinking down, I lose the day
The bubbles made just fly away
Looking up as light recedes
Sun grows dim, the darkness bleeds
Ink comes spreading across my vision
It doesn't help my soul's confusion
My buddy signals 'You OK?'
I'm waving as I sink away
Through the mask I cannot speak
And everything around looks bleak

I'm floundering around alone
But which way's up? I can't get home
No reference point, no sense of touch
Although I'm feeling far too much
And as I fall the pressure increases
Until all rational thought just ceases
I curl up deep inside myself
Where in my search I find a shelf
And reaching out for what I've found
Discover myself on solid ground
Beyond all light, all hope, all feeling
I find belief that has a meaning

And on it I can safely stand
Can fall no further; it is land
Within the depths, beneath the light
A place where I can stand and fight
The demons that plague my darkest hours
Resisting all their deadly powers
For they can never touch me here
There's nothing that I need to fear
I have a sense of my self worth
That's grounded here upon this earth
So in my sorrow, I'll not drown
No matter how far I sink down

Copyright K E Breadmore 2001