The Tower
I am standing by a dark, black, stone sea,
where nothing lives
no reflection sees.
They tell me they used to swim in it
but now there are merely
tourists behind a rope,
dipping distant fingers
into the icy
ink.
I turn to walk the path into the red-brick, splendid town,
Where the proud, clock tower
reaches haughtily high
for a non-descript sky.
A white bus corners
too fast,
(was it driverless?),
and pivotting,
I know
without sight,
that its blind velocity
will cause it to roundabout
crazily into the tower’s feet.
I feel the toppling
sense it
and start to run.
Some stand and stare
cameras
capturing
their own destruction
for instagram.
But I run.
I feel the bricks topple.
hear the rumble.
I don’t look back.
The brickdust clowd surges
tsunami
sweeping
those who hesitate
those who crowd
and distract themselves in gift shops
away.
I run,
sensing others with me,
but I do not turn to look
at what or who is falling.
I look straight ahead,
feel my muscles pull me forward
away.
We meet by the sea,
we escapees.
dishevelled
silent,
fewer.
There is not other way than to swim.
We
I plunge in
to a living sea.
I am not scared
though there are shadowy shapes swimming beneath me.
I do not stop
my strong strokes,
just onward.
Onward,
reaching arms
kicking legs
breathing
until,
from a distant shore,
people swim out
to greet us,
swim with us,
as we land.
I land
and turn to see wild haired
women
licking salt from their strong brown skin
Kind men
offer
a safe
undemanding embrace.
I try to dry myself,
to find my feet in this new place
which is familiar
yet strange
hotter.
The suriving swimmers
move,
some towards
a tidy line
awaiting work.
I see rails of my clothes
suspended on wire wracks
in the empty parking lot
patiently
lined up for office hours
and desk.
I do not try them on,
Instead
I lick salt from my tough,
strong skin,
and join the wild haired women
and kind men
as we move
silently
on.
If you enjoyed reading this please share it with friends. You might also be interested in talking to me about coaching , or maybe try some of my online courses (some are free), or treat yourself to a climate protecting pamper with vegan friendly, organic Tropic which supports the planting of forests and education in deprived areas.
Thanks for being here.
Julie
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