I lived down in the depths
amid slime and creatures –
I forced my way up to the
water’s surface out of longing
for the bright colours
– A blindingly white
swan glided by over there on
the gleaming surface its
clean lines mirrored in
the water – which also reflected
the sky’s light clouds
I reached out to it
with my hands – entreated it to come
– But it could not
simply could not reach past the
ring of scum and slime that
surrounded me – it dirtied
its head and breast and glided away
