Under

My walking speed decreased

my energy depleted,

feelings heavier than concrete

those strangers knew I felt defeated.

-

At first, I kicked fast

while I was wading through these waters -

now my legs are still, but my

lungs are still unaccustomed to

the wet mud, the

overwhelming thickness in the

water’s blood. A thousand floating bodies, a contrast to

all of those

historical images. Buried with the cave paintings,

sinking in my sleep, hair stretched out like

weeds amidst

the reeds. No more love to give and

no air left to breathe. Inhale,

hold the life within your chest and

breathe out

thick

black

sm

o

k

e.