Paul Willason | + Follow Poet |
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The Perennial Diver

Bubbled 
in a young man's breath,
I glided along the weedy
and rock strewn bottom
just out from shore,
a companion to fish 
and crustacean, a finned, 
neoprene clad denizen 
of the deep. 

The limit of my lungs made me
gorge on this underwater
world in the brief time
a held breath could last.
I packed so much
into mere minutes
to nourish a lifetime.
I always felt saddened 
in having to surface 
and leave such wonder 
behind.

These days old lungs
barely hold a breath.
At night I now dive deep
into other places 
where poetry is - 
take in the mystery,
feel saddened
when I have to surface
and leave that world 
of words behind.

Copyright © Paul Willason | Year Posted 2024

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Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 10/22/2024 5:14:00 AM Hello Paul, Ohh to be young again. I was not an avid diver, but I have dived snorkeling and with tanks, and I thought it was so heavenly under the seas. Your poem expresses your passion for the sport. Great seeing the young Paul! Autumn Blessings, My Friend, Daniel Login to Reply Paul Willason Date: 10/23/2024 9:16:00 PM Appreciate you diving into the poem Daniel....many thanks. As mention to Lin, those days glow in memory and I can still recall the experience/s in detail. Take care my friend.

Lin Lane Date: 10/21/2024 4:23:00 AM A peak into the younger days of Paul Willason, "neoprene clad denizen of the deep." Poet extraordinaire of the present. You have such a skillfully honed way of bringing your readers into your poems. I'd be brief in my dive into the deep, but only because of the sharpened teeth of the predator denizens of the deep. I understand the hesitancy to leave such underwater beauty. I once had a 500-gallon saltwater tank that I could've spent all day being 'submersed' in watching. Login to Reply Paul Willason Date: 10/23/2024 9:13:00 PM You make me blush Lin. Remembered the photo after I wrote the poem and debated inclusion...bit of fun nostalgia. Recall those days with great fondness. So thankful for yr comments dear Lin.