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