My Poetry Debut

You’re Kidding

“Come up here,” they say. 

2 hands outstretched, they won’t go away.

“I can’t.  I’ll stay here.”

Panting, whining, moaning, with fear.

Eyes rove spastically.

“Go on without me!” I say dramatically.

Not a chance they will.

The choice is mine to come up still.

Where’s the Lifeguard?

You know

The road you drew

Looks like a river

Who’s current will

Sweep me away

I hesitate

I dip my toe in

I throw off my clothes

And abandon myself

To the waters

At first the water is icy cold

My skin tingles

I can’t breathe

I come up for breath

Flailing as though I will drown

Looking for land

But then the movement

Warms me

As soon as I let go

And swim with the current

I am at peace

Still, I don’t know where

It is taking me

Yet I move with it

I glide smoothly as though

Down a slide

I playfully splash at

Onlookers on the shore

“This is fun!” I scream

Then I dive under again

Suddenly warm yet tingly

With exhaustion

I’m a fish

Well, almost

Learning to swim

I’m at least in the current