-For John
I reached into the dark side of the fringing reef
below the boundary separating air from water.
A photo would show it as a line, a deception
to cling to the laws of geometry in undulating
currents, their rhythm forming an invisible
structure embracing breath, stillness here an abstract
myth. Lungs bellow, blood follows its usual course,
eyes blink, thoughts dart gray as angelfish,
emotions surge brilliant yellow as smallmouth
grunts, blue as chromis, orange streaked permits
swooping in a school unwieldy as the one above ground.
My usual strokes stream otherness and alarm. I set
my gaze, restrain my limbs, flutter feet and hands slowly,
imperceptibly, just enough to stay in place, bait the
human-like curiosity. Be still, you said, let life come to you.