Ripples

Prompt: You are surrounded by water.

Ripples

a day,

  maybe two,

ago you rested

your head, heavy

with thoughts, upon

a sparkling pillow

you were fully supported

by something denser

then you—the

water was somehow

more real and

tangible than anything about you

the thoughts swimming

in your mind remind

you the water changes

every day, but looks the

same

rippling

always

but not you

just the opposite,

in fact

you look different

every day, but has

anything about you

ever really changed?

a night ago,

  maybe a morning,

you stood washing

dishes in a silver sink

letting heated water slide over

the good china

your smooth hands became

wrinkly and old, but they

looked more alive than

ever before

something told you

to throw

     break

     shatter

the china, so simply perfect,

just to see, to believe, to make

sure it would make

a sound

but the water again

supported your head, through your hands,

each burning drop

attaching you to—

well, reminding you of—

the life you stand in

an hour ago,

    maybe a few more,

every fear you have

flew lightly past your

eyes, sickening

and all the same

a sense of euphoric

terror filled your heart

your face felt the

sea, salty and warm,

meander its way

over your flushed cheeks

and everyone tells you

tears are for the

weak and you tell yourself

the same

to stay strong

maybe you are

weak, but what if that’s

what makes you human?

maybe that’s

just how things are

a minute ago,

   maybe two,

you realized that

water is what keeps you

from drowning in life