DECOMPRESSION

at the onset of nitrogen narcosis
i pause and come up for air
swimming slowly upwards
towards a dim half-light
my movements startle small shoals of tiny fish
i glimpse shadowy forms
lurking among the murky depths
watery mirages
gently stretching
gently kicking
muscles relaxing
sinews untwisting
going with the flow
sensing warm currents slide over cool currents
inhaling and exhaling
taking my time
pausing often
resisting the urge to go too fast
easy does it
thom & co told us all about the bends
brighter now
like emerging gradually from a long railway tunnel
watch out for sharks
they sometimes like to feed at these depths
the water becomes warmer
the light grows intense
the undertow bullies me
making me giddy
tired but not weary
with a final kick i break the surface
and
emerge
to
a
brilliant
blue
sky