Adrift

A girl, adrift on the sea.
No life boat in site, she swims through the night.
Searching for aid, yet none does she see.

Then wait! Land ho! She swims toward the land.
Three years she strokes, hand after hand.
At last, she has gained on the small strip of sand.

She reaches a pale, withered hand toward the shore, only to find water, where she thought land before.
She cries, “I relent! To the waves, I give my consent!”
And slowly she drifts down to the black ocean floor.

Her breath leaves her. And her thoughts – but for one more.
I will not give up! I will not give in!
And to the surface does she jettison.
“I will simply swim in a different direction.”


Written May 24, 2008