Poem: Psych Ward

Digital Painting by Jeff Spencer

In childbirth 20 years ago
my husband sat beside me
tried to help me slow my breathing
urging
"swim,
swim to the top"

Now my baby's in the water
deep beneath the murky surface
with his pink flesh flashing fish-like
as we rim the bank
to call him
sisterbrotherfather calling
to the fish boy who is man now
begging Him to
"swim,
swim up"
and
holding out ridiculous nets