By the handful the liquid appears colorless
But a quick glance across the rippled surface convinces you it is blue
Cold water surrounds me as I descend
Gazing upwards as I take my seat on the floor
People seem to be flying, a butterfly, though it isn’t true
I know about buoyancy, I know they are merely supported by the water
As long as they keep pushing their way through, they’ll move
The waves on the surface distort my vision
More than I originally thought
The light moves more slowly through the water
Granted I can’t perceive the lag
That little kid running along the pool deck
The action happening maybe nanoseconds, probably smaller
Before I was able to begin perceiving it
With the same idea
I could look into the sky tonight and pick a star
It may very well have died, a fiery hell or a disappointing fizzle
Millions of years ago.
My lungs ache
I push off the floor, relief when my head breaks the surface
Gasping