Escaping the depths of the murky lake,
leg-kicking upward in frantic haste,
arms grasp for purchase
in what surely will be my watery grave.
Head breaks the surface,
lungs gulp for precious air,
burning, aching subsides,
drown-panic-dying moment passes.
Another failed attempt by me
to prove I am not aqua phobic.
So reminiscent of our years together
as I flail in the waters of regret
for sticking with you
for better or worse – mostly worse,
suffocating from my fear of you.
You stand on the shore
of Lake Verbal Abuse
while I flounder
in the depths of inadequacy,
never doing enough to please you.
I don my mental life vest,
swimming away from your cruel intentions.
Embracing the water’s cool surface,
its buoyancy, its life-giving waves,
I float my way to freedom —
if only in my mind.
on a cruise with my ex and her new man
i am here for our two kids and their smiles
i find a quiet place and listen to garnet mimms
my common sense punches me in the face
my stupidity laughs in my face
i look at the blue water and say a quiet prayer
that is when i open my eyes to the smoothest buttercream legs
i look up slowly and a smile that woke up the sunshine refreshes my self esteem
i forget about the stresses of my unwise choice and begin a conversation
guided by God, we inspire the moon to rise with a smile
the next day is departure day, but the beginning of a New Arrival Revival
instead of the ship sinking, it makes it safely to shore
Cast out to sea alone with no ship
The last ale I drank now with an empty bottle
This message I write will be placed within
Tossing it out to sea
Months and years go by with no one saving me
This message has been lost with no one to read
The waves enter the shore and go back out to sea
This message in the bottle has been lost like me
Sharks all around cycling me as I await my death
Has life stopped reading or are they just blind and deaf
Can they not see this message I send
Lost out at sea with no one but me
One small light I see this night reflecting off the moon
I swim to shore to see and do I find
This empty bottle with this message of mine
My hopes and dreams of finding love
Have disappeared into another empty bottle
Of Wine
Dedicated to: My Brother
My brother’s life after the war drinking himself to death
Life, is the river,
on which all must travel.
While some row,
countless have chosen to drift.
Some are focused on a destination,
but innumerable are lost.
When cross currents are encountered,
drifting boats oft capsize.
Many, in fear of drowning,
feverishly add pitch.
But there exists no great need
for panic or despair,
for God is reaching toward each,
a life preserver.
To be rescued,
one simply needs to receive Him.
Having now been saved,
focus on the Lighthouse,
rowing as if your very life depends on it;
for in fact, eternal life does.