Second Chances

You pulled yourself to the shore

With choking, gurgling gasps

Out of the sea, that churning madness. 

For moments, there was the euphoria

Of thinking death was upon you.

It was a curious thing to watch you wrestling

with the realization

that you were not,

in fact, dead: 

You had done it. 

Well, what’ll it be now, my dear?

Between the desire

to lay on that shore, 

to let the tide take you anyway

Or…

To drag those aching 

bones to the gentle lamplight 

Flickering just beyond the shoreline?

There might be something out there, Waiting 

for you. All you have to do is try.