Darkness Descended

Gasping,
clutching,
straining to pull myself
from the terrifying
realism
of my dreams,
I struggled to the surface
splashing,
and kicking,
only to find,
as I slowly sank,
I really was…
drowning,
and I held my breathe,
sinking…
sinking,
letting the air go
slowly…
slowly,
bubbles
rising past my eyes,
gasping again,
choking hard,
the pain…
the pain
was gone
as I sank
in a euphoric state,
needing air
no more…
no more,
and then,
as things grew dimmer,
darkness descended.


W. James Beard, Jr.