someone

adrift: the ocean flows around me
and though i cannot swim
i tread water

afloat: the salt in the air
stings me eyes and reminds
of the tears left unshed

buoyed: the sun is warm (not hot)
and dares me to find
my way to land

exhausted: the water holds me up
and pulls me down and
stretches out against me

asleep: the ocean lulled me
the sun comforted me
and so i slid beneath the surface

awash: your arms surrounded me
your legs propelled me
your heart revived me

ashore: i awoke by vomiting
salty brine onto the sand
but by then you were gone

This is based on the prompt "I met someone" from the journal "in poetry we say..." by whitney hanson

03.25.25