Wave-length

Cautiously, she dips her toe in the tepid waters below.

The ripples created travel band by band until they fade in the distance.

Metallic and resigned, she searches its surface,

A vain attempt to understand what lies below.

She is not the strongest swimmer,

And the fear of what lurks hidden and disguised by the outward calm

Is enough to make her hesitate.

So she meddles near the banks of the water,

An eye forever pealed in the event of danger, just in case.

Each time she looks, the river is undisturbed,

But she cannot shake the feeling that once out of her glance,

The waters swell to flood the shores around them,

Consuming any unsecured items

And sweeping them along in a fatal ebb and flow.

The air hangs heavy in the midday heat;

The sparkling ripples entice with promises of cool pleasure.

A dangerous combination, for the current is strong

And the waters, bottomless deep.

Her bare feet leave imprints in the silky mud

But how many have lingered here before?

Leaving their mark, lessening her memory?

The desire to be swallowed up within the river is strong,

To feel the waters caress her skin and saturate her reality.

So in she wades, to her ankles, her calves.

Knee-deep, shouts from land tug at her,

And the prickly hot sense of danger surges through her veins.

The river shimmers now, lapping at her thighs.

The sunlight plays upon its carefree current, dancing through the day.

Yet she remembers its dark anonymity.

Among the night stars, the abysmal black is enough to suck her in.

Will they say I told you so?

Cautiously she turns toward the riverbank,

Half-submerged, there is still a chance to flee all of this.

An equal chance to dive into the waters, feel its bliss…

Hands in the air, feet below the surface, she hesitates,

Caught between two worlds.

Reviews

[Michelle N. H.]

This poem is amazing to me. I had to read it twice just because I loved it so. Stunning imagery, beautifully articulate.. Definitely a thumbs up or two :)