adrift: the ocean flows around me
and though i cannot swim
i tread water
afloat: the salt in the air
stings me eyes and reminds
of the tears left unshed
buoyed: the sun is warm (not hot)
and dares me to find
my way to land
exhausted: the water holds me up
and pulls me down and
stretches out against me
asleep: the ocean lulled me
the sun comforted me
and so i slid beneath the surface
awash: your arms surrounded me
your legs propelled me
your heart revived me
ashore: i awoke by vomiting
salty brine onto the sand
but by then you were gone
03.25.25
This is based on the prompt “I met someone” from the journal “in poetry we say…” by whitney hanson