You scrutinize the details of the outward world
as you hide behind a glass structure
setting a divide between the inside and out.
It all works out well until
water slowly fills the enclosure,
suffocating you in your own space
til you're submerged up to your ears
struggling to stay above water level,
taking one last breath
before the water reaches your nose.

Within a few moments
you start to see the world around you
as in underwater
a group of spectators gather around,
their muddled expressions,
crystal clear behind the glass,
you,
banging against the surface,
they,
staring, watching,
not knowing what to do.

At times like these
only you can save yourself.
The stunned crowd watches you, like
Houdini performing one of his magic tricks.
But this time
the key is gone
you dropped it somewhere long ago,
too caught up in the act to pick it up.
Now they're all just
waiting for you to do something
their piercing gaze focused on you
until the water fills your lungs
and infiltrates the blood within your veins.

Three days later you'll float to the surface
just like a dead goldfish,
left too long without care.

The multitude walking past
this grand aquarium spectacle,
the sound of coins clattering,
from spare change being thrown.
A roar of applause
at another cheap trick
for the Houdini - devoted crowd.