Breathing Under Water

Breathing Under Water by Carol Bieleck I built my house by the sea. Not on sand mind you; Not on the shifting sand. And I built it of rock. A strong house By a strong sea. And we got well acquainted the sea and I. Good neighbors. Not that we spoke much. We met in silences. Respectful, keeping our distance, But looking our thoughts across the fence of sand. Always, the fence of sand our barrier,  Always, the sand between. And then one day, and I still don’t know how it happened The same came Without warning. Without welcom, even Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand like wine. Less like the flow of water than the flow of blood Slow, but coming Slow, but flowing like an open wound. And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning  And I thought of death And while I thought the sea crept higher, til it reached my door And I knew then, there was neither flight, nor death, nor drowning. That when the sea come...