Sink or Swim

The sun bleaches the lake, silken waves

beating the ancient boat like an angry lover.

It's intoxicating, watching it rise and fall, breathing

its perfume, lulled by its whisper.

It's 'bout time you learn how to swim, he said,

nice hot day, wouldn't ya like to try it?

There's no time to scream as he hurls you like a fish

that's too small for eating, the water gulping you down.

The lake's skin peels back like a wound,

the murky green of its insides blocking out the world above.

You scream daddy, daddy, acrid water choking, gagging,

killing you. You'll die now, not strong enough to fight back.

How many years were you down there?

Deafened and blind, a lifeless thing floating, waiting,

complacently letting your lungs burst.

How many years would it have taken before you let it crush you?

You stab through the water suddenly, dazed,

almost forgetting to breath. You did it babe, you're swimming

baby girl, you hear and breath finally, fiercely.

It's almost too much of a struggle to stay afloat, almost not worth it.

Author's Note

Thank you for the review (s?) :)

Reviews

[Divinity Sleeps in This]

I like this style very much, the 1st and 4th stanzas seem to hold me the most. There is a rustic confessionalism in this, I imagine that I can see your influences.