I thought that it was deeper,
the real thing,
but this must be
an illusion.
I swam with the shoals
as a child.
This, I can’t even wade in.
Someone has replaced
the endless space
with a picture
of the bottom,
and made my deepest fears
two-dimensional.
Taking away the abyss,
took away my terror.
Taking away the sky,
took away my wings.
Now,
I only hope to die,
cold and isolated.
In between
two plastic screens,
like a specimen for study.
I remember it was higher.
I remember it was deeper.
I remember being afraid,
But I don’t remember
how I learned to get over it.
HG – 2019