Exiting

How was it?

You, lover of water and wave,
swimming alone,
getting into trouble,
floundering,
panicking,
arms flailing,
hands clutching at water,
wanting to hold on,
realising life was slipping away.

I would have gone early,
poor swimmer that I am,
thrashing wildly,
tiring quickly,
craving air,
gulping water,
but you would have hung on for longer.
You saw the world differently.

I hope the part of you still there
just after your body shut down
accepted what was happening,
was able to let go
and send a thinking farewell
to family and friends,
and was happy
finally knowing
how that last moment goes.


Elio Novello (Western Australia)