How long til I feel the ground Safely beneath my feet? How long must I tread water, Stuck out here in the deep? Can I escape the current And surf the swells to shore? Or will the waves betray me And pummel me to the floor? How long before my energy flags, And I slip down beneath The ocean's salty surface Where I am lulled to sleep? Will my end be violent? Will I fight for every breath? Or will I simply give up And accept impending death? Perhaps there will be rescue To carry me safely home. Then I remember I'm the rescue; I'm out here all alone. Copyright 2020 by Lydia Lawrence
Bio:
Lydia is a poet from Northern Virginia. When she is not caring for patients as a nurse, she spends her time in her backyard, thinking, reading, and writing.
Donation Appeal:
Throughout June and July, we will be presenting on this web site work by poets and artists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you will find these works relevant, comforting and inspiring as we all cope with the economic and health-related fallout.
As you view the work on this site each day, we would like to encourage you to donate to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Their mission “ is to feed our neighbors in need by providing dignified access to supplemental groceries. AFAC is seeing a record number of families due to the COVID-19 pandemic as families who never thought they would ever be in need are now showing up at our doors for much needed food.” And, in keeping with our hunger-focused efforts, you may also want to visit the Poetry X Hunger website where poems by many poets are posted and are being used by anti-hunger organizations.”
Please consider donating to AFAC. If you do, let us know which poet or artist inspired you so we can send you a personal thank you.
If you send a donation, please let us know.
And thank you for your visit .
