bending

 

Bending 

 

 

That time you rose with bubbles

in your blood but didn’t know it

didn’t feel the honest

to goodness pressure

you were under and really who

can in the beginning it doesn’t change

much initially. I want to ask

how fast do you have

to draw up from the bottom to have

gas make the improper advances

like touching a tittie lightly almost

unnoticed until something goes pop



and you come to in a steel can

doors screwed shut and the hiss

(is there a hiss I imagine there’s a hiss)

of sweet air on damage control inhale

inhale let every lungful saturate

and send out battalions to prey

on the renegades and make them

docile as a rabid dog just shot but not

gone yet not gone mad but just

resting before the rage has fled



and what's promised is relief sweet

relief at being so loved in such a way

as to be delivered finally and forever

from it all.



When they open the chamber door

they’ll tell you the man you almost

murdered your best friend and fellow

will live and you don't know

what to say to that only now you

stumble, bum a smoke or try to

and let the men who saved you

from going under for real

and for good say naw, not just yet

pal, just keep breathing, in

and out, easy, no need speeding

just getting to the top slow

as she goes. There's air. Don't panic.