Pain forms a wave

speeding toward me

closer getting faster

growing in height

turns white intense

knocks off my feet

taste my salty tears

dragged undertow

dragged to death

fingers into sand

slip through sand

drawn farther out

out over my head

feet grip nothing

looking up to wave

then to bottom

no up and no down

my chest burns

holding breath

voice says “breathe”

I release breath

draw in new air

slowly calming

as breath comes

feet touch sand

climb out of sea

confusion of sea

pain not recede

but I am calmer

half the battle