strange waters

plug my nose as water glazes my eyes
i look up to see the light refracting
bending and dancing in sparkling patterns
bold waves colliding and folding the sky

muffled chatter laughter hums in my ears
comforting, pushing me to dive deeper
with prickly resolve, down further i go
the ocean's ringing song echoing full

the light fades and murky clouds win over
nothing to feel but dark seep in my skin
until the first fin brushes my ankle
the raw shock sending a chill over me

below, cascades of rainbow scales ripple
fish blacker than the densest dark matter
translucent bodies blending into rocks
the strange beauty buoys me to the surface