Denis Bruce | + Follow Poet |
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Climbing the Ladder

It was an experience near to death
With swirling water and mind
Choking and snatching at breath
My eyes and voice unable to find
The pool attendant unconscious of my distress
Innocently my granddaughter looked on unaware
As my limbs thrashed with stress
And I gasped for air
Down I sank to the very tiles
And kicked upwards in fear
Was this to be my funereal style
No way would I choose a watery bier
So grimly I pushed my head back
And fought the water for my life
Spluttering I broke the surface through this knack
To grab the bar with joyous relief. 
Never has the world looked to me
So vital and worth so much care
As when I gulped in with lungs free
To drink that blessed air
To drink  that blessed air.

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Cheryl Hoffman Date: 5/31/2016 8:46:00 PM So glad my siblings and I learned to swim although am scared of going off diving boards and big waves!:) Glad you are ok, your poem brings back a memory when I was young and not a very experienced swimmer yet too! Good imagery! Login to Reply Denis Bruce Date: 6/1/2016 6:24:00 AM It was a surreal experience.I just imagined myself succumbing to the depths while all else was going on normally and insouciantly about me.When I broke to the surface and grabbed the handrail, my six year old granddaughter in the matter of fact way that kids do commented,"Your mouth kept opening ."Little did she realise what was happening.She is completely comfortable in the water,no matter the depth. Thank you for your kind comments

Jan Allison Date: 5/31/2016 5:07:00 PM I found your poem brought back childhood memories - i nearly drowned in a swimming pool when I was about 6 - am still terrified of deep water:-( hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Denis Bruce Date: 6/1/2016 6:29:00 AM Jan,I sympathise with your sentiments entirely.It was a moment that will live with me and make me more than careful in the water from now on.I hope I did not cause you any upset with my description of the incident.