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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!

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

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.