Diving

Inspirations from life...

Diving

 

Standing anxious upon

a whitewashed deck,

nausea tugging

unseen internal tides,

rolling in the spasms of a disquiet sea…

foaming acidic trepidation mirrored

upon windswept azure seas

hidden below

cerulean eye’s surface.

 

Harnessed expectations

strapping breath to resolve,

weighted and pressurized

sealed, checked and rechecked

wearing fins of necessity;

I become irrelevant

waddling a superficial stumble

toward potential purpose.

 

Spitting into the fog

of masked perception

I grasp a lifeline,

pursed lips locking

hope, to lungs expanding

acceptance, I leap…

sinking,

bobbing,

and alas succumb

drifting into the quiet pressure

below life’s turbulence.

 

Panting surrenders

to a steady buoyancy,

resolve swallowing

to equalize atmospheric transitions

lifting painful mass

within a hovering cocoon

blinded by the wonderment

submersed in observation.

 

The world sways

a fickle welcome

pushing and pulling

surrendering momentum

like vibrant corals fanning

fluorescent promenades

paved with rusting vessels,

yesteryear’s promises

kept in ghostly sanctuaries

worshiping the moment

before tomorrow’s decompression

Author's Note

I have recently learned to scuba dive... It is very inspirational. I fight anxiety and have dealt with many fears to become a diver. I have always had seasickness as well, but have decided I will overcome it. This poetry is a mirror of my everyday life reflected in the world of scuba diving. I hope you enjoy the layers of meaning.

Reviews

[...]

I love this! Diving down to rise above the lie of fear is truly an undersea adventure :) Awesome metaphors and style and tremendous amount of heart seeped from your lines, Scott. Beautiful to read, to experience, and to share, with your readers :)

[David Scott]

Thank you for your kind review Lynn. I'm happy you saw my "heart" in this write. I think we see mostly what we choose to see. I like your choice here. 😀

[andrew mitchell]

At first I thought you meant diving David and I'm scared of heights when scuba diving came to mind I was scared of sharks, jellyfish with stingers and a giant squid attacking me, apart from that all was calm, you lost your fear and I enhanced mine! lol

[David Scott]

Ha. Funny. You must see what you must see... Hope your pulse settled down soon.
Thank you for reading.

[Lydia Shutter]

The degrees of meaning in your write are a pleasure to "dive" into....pardon the pun here. It is empowering to overcome a fear....to know you can win if you put your mind to it. Kudos to you for pushing through and achieving this personal goal. The road of life is not a smoothly paved one. If we can find a way to get past the haunted houses to see the wonders all around us, we have won a battle. The imagery in your poem is stunning and the metaphor is great. I enjoyed it. Lydi**

[David Scott]

Thank you for seeing the "more" of what and why I wrote this. You are a wise and kind friend Lydi.

[emmajoy]

Somehow one disappears when beneath the surface of... it's a different world when self somehow drifts away, briefly, happily and contentedly mislaid. And, because of that, methinks that's why scuba diving, (efficiently carried out.. must be, always), minimises and calms fears and foibles. You have to focus, be aware and careful.. but once learned, the new world conveniently becomes what you search and need day to day in the real world.

Sorry, your words brought back memories... and what i should be focussing on is the honest use of comparison with the activity and life itself.. This strikes me as a truth from start to finish. And is quite beautiful... in its 'worshipping the moment.. '

[David Scott]

You understand well. This is indeed an alter upon where I offer back a portion of the blessings I have received.
Thank you for taking a moment to read and review. Your gift to me is appreciated.

[alifeacoustic]

I must admit I got swept along in those waves as you superbly painted a vivid picture in my mind, which is no considerable feat considering I had to have three attempts at reading this because of my fear of open water. (I fell off a boat when I was eight and have never been a water person since)
The amount of emotion and expression in this piece is wonderful, taking us along on your waves.
Superb.

[David Scott]

Oh my... I am sorry you had such a traumatic experience in the water. I have fears too... I am 46 yr old now and have decided I will not live in fear of anything. So, if I have a fear I will be facing it head on and getting over it. Holding a large spider is really going to suck! ha.
I am glad you enjoyed the poetry.

[Great Aunt Astri]

What a wonderful use of words! Yes we do tend to dive into situations, and have to be careful of the ride back up again. Is it the Benze you can get? I think I have suffered from that many a time in life! Wonderful poem.

[David Scott]

Ha... Well Astri, we all are at risk for this effect. We call it getting "bent". Off gassing nitrogen gets stuck in tissue and can be deadly. Have to go back under pressure to relieve.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i like the parallel of diving to life that you describe here. Many phobias haunt us in life, things we have to fight through and get over...sometimes life makes us hold our breath...and sometimes we lose our breath at the beauty of life and love...
but nevertheless we learn to dive into situations and swim through the best and the worst.

[David Scott]

Thank you for seeing my purpose here. Every observation is a parable waiting to be understood...
read moreThank you for seeing my purpose here. Every observation is a parable waiting to be understood...
You are a great observer of life my friend.

[-inactive now-]

Wow, the imagery in this poem feels authentic and spectacular. It was also very refreshing to read something of a different subject matter.
It was a pleasure to read.

[David Scott]

Thank you Josiah. I always try give authentic.

[A hare off]

This is incredibly beautiful. You are an aritist with words David. This scene, this underwater masterpiece you have painted is suitable for framing in my opinion. And I mean that with all sincerity, this is beautiful. I have never been scuba diving and probably won't, rabbits don't do well in water, but it sure sounds like fun and your poem makes it mighty tempting.

[David Scott]

Thank you for such a kind comment. Actually, the underwater world is far more enjoyable than all the drama I depicted here. I tried to use the experience to show a visual of our internal explorations beneath the façade of daily life. If you ever get the chance, you should stretch yourself and try it.