The Bathypelagic Zone - April 20 2025

 

The Bathypelagic Zone

April 20 2025

Underwater

submerged

unmoored.

When the world gets murkier

like looking through tears,

sound travels further

but can still go unheard,

and I'm chilled to the bone

no matter how warm it is.

Descend far enough

and the darkness is absolute.

Where even up is meaningless,

phosphorescent fish

flash by

like bright little baubles,

and bubbles

as compressed as they are

invariably rise.

I try to follow them up,

but the terrible weight is crushing me

and air has run out.

Or so it sometimes feels.

When I’m half in and half out

and broken in the middle.

When I shout

but there isn’t any sound.

When my boundaries have softened,

because it's hard to know

where water-in-water

ends and starts.

And when I can’t tell up from down

because it’s so dark

it can’t get any more;

kicking hard

but getting further from the light.

Very dark. But please be reassured: not autobiographical.

( … Well, not entirely 😟!)