Drowning

Swimming alone in a pool of darkness
it pulls me under.
My cries for help are swallowed.
As the water reaches eye level
and I kick and flail
fighting to stay above the darkness.
But the whilrpool of shadows
won't let go of its hold on me
and I slowly begin to give in
to the feeling that lies below the water line.

My lungs fill with dusky moisture -
the lungs that once held so much life,
yet now the murky water replaces it.
I can't find the will to reach
for someone to grab my hand
and pull me from darkness's grasp.
I cannot blame my would-be rescuer
for not knowing as I plunge secretly through
the threshold between light and dark
and give in to the thing that devours me.

All of the strength and all of the courage
that I once held in my heart
can't save me from these waters.
As I slowly slip below the world of consciousness
undetected by the occupants of that other world
of swimmers and effortless floaters.
I don't want to fight anymore.
I surrender to the dark.