When I Dived

it felt somehow cramped…
very awkward
and very cramped.

But then I expected
that at least with every stroke
of my arms it would grow
darker
or at least wider…

Except that
it stayed
bright and cramped
and I began
to lose
little by little
my bearings.
Stroke after stroke.

Good thing
that at least
the nitrogen bubbles
came just in time.
Exactly when
I believed
I had surfaced.

Because the diving
rope
came out of the water
over there.

My hand,
expectant,
reached out
to break
the surface
and lead
the body.

It smashed into something
transparent white.
Bounced back
and struck against
the oncoming
joint.

I looked around
for something
to bandage
the water with, because
it was getting stained
by my
hurrying
to clot
blood.

Behind the glass
round porthole
the blurred gaze
of a tense tourist
passed through me
as it searched
for the waitress.

It seemed to me
he was in a hurry and did not want
them to drag out
this bill
any longer.

2006