Watery Coffin

I look into my child’s eyes Brown pools of innocence And I see my reflection A silhouette of heartbreak I want to go back in time I want to hold her tighter I need to tell her I love her And I’ll never let her go But I did that fateful day Repeatedly I screamed her name My movements were slow Everyone else was frozen in time The water felt like quicksand My enemy in my time of need Waves crashing, distancing me With each fall, they laugh at me Another soul they are about to steal Adding to their marine collection My cries, fearful, they go unheard The seagulls fly past, mocking me I keep running in slow motion Like I’m sloshing through molasses The unbearable pain in my chest My heart gone by ocean’s erosion The salt fills my lungs, burning with fire Panicking in despair, I see her body Downturned, arms outstretched Flying with the ones that took her from me I beg her to breathe, I demand that she listens I call her name in frustration But she never responds to me Her silence torments my ears I hold her in my tight embrace I tell her I love her…baby, I love you I want to see her smile at me I try to rewind time but it refuses The twinkle in her eyes, darkened by death, Reflects overwhelming heartbreak A paralyzing sadness turned into numbness The water took two lives that day.