Lake Shadow

Diving, I die,
shadows who are not real,
just dancing figments
of what could be,
what used to be, Platonic
ideals on the cave wall.

Diving, I live,
burst into sudden flame,
not knowing the others
around me,
a shadow world of
whispering guests
whose words are like
grating sandpaper.

Divine, I rise,
body tingling with
ice crystals, beads
of sweat, sudden
baptism, a boat far
away echoing like
a suffering creature,
calling my name.