Mid July
The air was warm, but the water was cold.
So cold.
It came straight from the cliffs a couple miles away.
Frozen beasts whose icy skin melted into freezing streams of crystal clear blood
and ran to fill up this stony crater.
Shoes off, socks off.
I always forget how soft dandelions are.
Wet clay – it's slippery in the afternoon sun.
The threshold sliding forward and backward.
A few steps in and breath leaves as it
attempts to distance itself from insanity.
Shuffle forward.
Mud and rocks.
An ache, straight through
Grazing bone
Biting flesh
Keep walking, every step a shock – painful and startling and wonderful.
Deep breath. All the way under.
Brain freeze in the most literal way.
Back up to scalding air.
Eyes silver with ice and a thousand
needles everywhere.
And yet I wonder,
How long has it been since I've felt
this much?