Be patient with me.
It’s dark where I am.
I know
you want to help
but please,

this is my journey.

You shouldn’t feel bad-
how can you save me
from an invisible ocean?

It must be hard for you
to watch me strain
against water you can’t see.

I’m sorry
I’m not good for much these days,
but it’s like I said-
it’s dark where I am,
my sea extending
in all directions.

It’s thick
and black
and violent
there are no ladders,
there is no calm,
and with every wave
I’m closer to drowning.

I know there’s light somewhere
(I catch glimpses sometimes)
I know there’s a way out

it’s just that
all the waves here look the same,
my navigator seems to have left me,
and I’ve never been particularly good
at reading maps.