Drowned

Heartbeats across the water

like an endless skipping stone

fill your ears and eyes until you

fear what you cannot atone

did you reach out for their fingers

as they sank beneath the waves

or grasp the empty water

far too late to scrape a save

I think you watched in silence

I cannot quite recall

your eyes felt far away from us

your heart was still and small

better to stay dry and safe

inside your bouncing boat

it was too weak to hold more weight

you said it wouldn't float

so alone you reached the shore

and yet the waves crashed on

you tried to leave the lake behind

it followed you along

I hope you do not mind your trail

of wet footsteps in the sand

they'll settle for all that you love

since you would not give a hand