Immersion by Anthony Nelson

Immersion

Anthony Nelson

The rushing waters wracked my shadowed form,

While chains of iron hindered my ascent.

I writhed and clawed to flee the raging storm,

But only proved to further my descent.

With vain endeavor and with wretched pains,

I looked up to the surface with dismay.

(Still, when I’m gone, the waves will rent my chains,

And let my body up to be displayed.)

But then a vision of my dad arose,

Reminding me of when we last embraced.

I saw his empty eyes, then saw them close,

As fingers hushed the terror in their case.

I realized, as the rain drove out my breath,

I, too, had urged the dying to succumb,

And stop the fruitless struggle against death,

So with this thought I relaxed and went numb.

Towards the surface of the sea above,

I expel all my air and watch its flight.

It bubbles up and rises like a Dove,

And through the Way is ushered into Light.