Ready For Drowning? Poem by Gary Fellows

See the kids playing there
And even grown-ups too
Splashing in blue and white
Red flags discarded
In the corner of their eyes

Such safety in numbers
I immerse myself in a sea of fun
A wave of emotion
Overwhelming me so
A lesson in power never experienced before

Neptune throws his sheets
Over the ignorant crowd
While yellow clad guardians
Whistle and shout
To ears turned away

Feel the grip of watery hands
A view blanked out
And muffled sounds
Pins me down to the sand
Unable to find my feet

Can’t catch my breath
Blind but to a hazy grey
And bubbles that shoot by
Ears begin to ring
Strength departs me and swims away

Deaf but to my own voice
Now calmly reassuring
“So this is it! Goodbye world”
Resigned to this salty grave
That came so quick to take me away

Then the light so quick returns
Leaves me standing and numb
Voices now subdued heard
Slowly walk with unsteady legs
Tears roll down as I lose my way

Disorientated and confused
Stagger around for my family
See the concerned face of love
Track me down to her relief
Anxious mother to save the day
Wrap me up and keep me safe

True account I experienced when I was 10 years of age in Bude Bay, Cornwall.