8 Submerged

Submerged

This dream interests me.

I am skiing, a bit carefully
turning a lot to not wipe out

but the snow quality changes
to slush, slows

so I can set a more direct line
and I do

head straight
down, with confident, cut curves

I know my people
are watching, noticing my new confidence

but the quality of the slush changes
is melting and I am skiing

into water and, as would happen,
as it turns to water I sink

fast
and my boots an my clothes and my skis

pull me down fast and I know
I must

get rid of all that is dragging me down
quickly and I do

I take off my boots and the skis sink
with them and I know

that is not all I must hold on
and I hold on to a thresher

that is there
unmoving

both these things need to happen
and do and two

corpses, bloated
float by me and I drift

near them carried downstream
and grab onto a corner of the lodge

where I can rest
and know I have done things okay

but I can't call
because my phone was wet

all was submerged
I can only hope that those

above me on the hill, or the hill-river
or the river

figured out what I did
and saved themselves

just in time.