since when have we been afraid
to swim in the deep,
those rock-bottom dark depths
that choke and twist?
don’t forget that air changes down there
or what your body feels like,
limping without breath
bobbing as boats push water from above.
it’s smooth and loose
and mellows like love.
***
Linda Battson is a writer and artist living in Austin, Texas. She spends her days selling pens and her nights engaged with those she loves. Linda enjoys authentic conversation, participating in the mental health discussion, and using writing as a tool to navigate the chaos of life. She is currently publishing her second book of poetry.
