Taken by the Lake

we were born from water 
and our bodies long for it 
liminal crossings carry us on 

***

rolling waves crash 
seagulls cry
towheaded boys 
dig hot sand 
and plow winding roads
with rusted yellow Tonka trucks 

relentless water 
erodes wet sand underfoot 
the mid-day sun pours down 
like an unwanted benediction 

something is ending 
and Lake Ontario calls 
but there is no way to plunge 
on this shallow shore
I can only wade awkwardly 
each laboured step met 
by a watery contraction
    that sucks me forward 
                     then shoves me back
     then sucks me forward 
                     and shoves me back

waves of water press higher
as I push ahead, covering 
my thighs 
my belly 
my breasts 
my arms 
and finally 
lift me off my feet and rock me
in an ebb and flow
that soothes my restless heart
and births a new beginning
I now know was imminent 
but in that moment 
couldn’t bear to face

Music Pairing: Undertow by the Magpies