Not Yet Drowning
By Ralph G. Lam
©2002
Steering my mind to surf among the stars,
I try and keep my head above water.
Parting tides of soothing stone warm floods;
The orange tangy brightness tells me that
I am “in for it”.
Now electric yellow,
And my thighs are warm,
My ribs…coddled in perfect pressure.
I am afraid to breathe.
I “know” that I will drown.
I can't resist what my body
Instinctively spasms toward.
With a huge, and stuttered gasp,
My chest lurches up as I suck in
Endless volumes of g-o-d knows what…
I am expecting shattered lungs of ecstasy;
Flooded blood vessels bursting with
Too much deep, dark juice; a lifetime
Of matter to digest.
Instead, I am brilliantly awake.
- here now –
so real, hard, and good.
Nothing hurts.
Nothing is out of place.
I love everything, and everybody,
But as I slowly tire from paying attention too well,
My feelings are too easily hurt
By others not yet drowning.
