I Escaped the River
written by: Stanley Wilkin
I escaped the river,
Staying afloat with the doggie paddle
And screaming at the bullrushes
Along the bank for reprise.
They said nothing. They did nothing.
Not seeing where I was headed, I fell into the lake
The river fed, and, up to my neck in cold water,
I tried the backstroke but saw too much
As the trees dragged their branches along the bank
And remained silent.
The rocks, like rocks everywhere, looked stern
Not even applauding my fate. I tried
The breaststroke but gave up quickly
From fatigue and near to collapse relapsed
Into the crawl, making more effort than sense.
I quickly understood this was a clumsy metaphor for life.
I kept on struggling until a stranger threw me a rope,
Smiled and walked on as the rope too fell into the water
And sank. I shouted profanities like a
Drunk sailor in the past besotted with gin, and
The stranger waved and smiled. His lips curled
Like plasticine as he called:
“Don’t thank me. It was all I could do.”
He turned away as I sank finally beneath the chilling water
Acknowledging the curious fashion of fate.
I cursed, and he waved again.
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