This Is The Life.

I shut my eyes. The cool night air chills my skin. I sense, I do not see, Cliff walls. Their stability Further from me in reality Yet closer, To my mind. My rigid body Cuts intrusively through inky water. The sounds from above Are muffled, Or perhaps, The sounds of this world Are becoming amplified. The waters Like images in my mind Swirl round me, Inside me, Forcing me Into a sad awareness. An angry awareness. I have no control I know I am powerless Struggling Useless Against the current. I wish I could cry. Are there tears trickling down my cheeks? More likely, my imagination. Unsure of where I am I continue. My arms and legs, Once strong Now frail uselessly. Disconnected, Images begin to fade Peace takes over me And I know now There were no tears. Only smooth water enveloping me still aware of my lack of control I am no longer Frightened. Instead, I take comfort in My knowledge. I rise to the surface Breathe deeply. Reveal in the crispness I swim to shore Shivering. I am running, To the highest cliff I will jump again. There will still be currents. And struggles, And images, And fear. But I am stronger now. For all waters calmed others are tumultuous. For all struggles won other wars are waged. For all images faded other are intensified. For all fears overcome new ones take their place. I am aware of reality of my fallibility. I am courageous I will jump into the river Again, And again. This is the life.