Breathing Underwater

[RKC2001]

Here's a great poem, it was written by Carol Bieleck. May we all find the strength and acceptance today to breathe underwater....

I built my house by the sea.

Not on the sands, mind you;

not on the shifting sand.

And I built it of rock.

A strong house

by a strong sea.

And we got well acquainted, the sea and I.

Good neighbors.

Not that we spoke much.

We met in silences.

Respectful, keeping our distance,

but looking our thoughts across the fence of sand.

Always, the fence of sand our barrier,

always, the sand between.

And then one day,

-and I still don’t know how it happened -

the sea came.

Without warning.

Without welcome, even

Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand like wine,

less like the flow of water than the flow of blood.

Slow, but coming.

Slow, but flowing like an open wound.

And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning and I thought of death.

And while I thought the sea crept higher, till it reached my door.

And I knew, then, there was neither flight, nor death, nor drowning.

That when the sea comes calling, you stop being neighbors,

Well acquainted, friendly-at-a-distance neighbors,

And you give your house for a coral castle,

And you learn to breathe underwater.

[Kat63]

That’s good imagery.

[Hidden]

So very true. Thank you for posting.

[marheart]

The Breathing Underwater poem says "And you give your house for a coral castle"

What does that mean?

[RKC2001 in reply to marheart]

Hi marheart, my guess is, that the house is now underwater and everything about it has changed

[marheart in reply to RKC2001]

Sounds possible.

"My House" sure has changed the past couple of years. It's difficult for me to recognize me in the changes in my thinking and living.