Sunday, April 26, 2009

The foolishness of dares

I dove too deep on a dare when I was a kid. 
"Pick up the silver dollar and you can have it." 
I watched the coin flipped through the air.
The small splash it made. 
Turning this way and that.
disappearing at the bottom of the pool.
"Okay. Go!"
I took a deep breath until my small chest revealed my ribs
and I went.  
Touching the bottom with my palm.
Feeling for the treasure. 
Found.
My small fingers made a fist around my wealth. 
Turning and pushing off with my small feet.
Misjudging air in my small lungs. 
Waiting an eternity to reach the shimmering surface 
while my small legs kicked. 
Panicking I opened my fist and grabbed madly for the light.
Breaking the surface and inhaling and coughing and laughing and sadness
as I looked down to watch the silver dollar tumble to the bottom of the pool.