Treading Water

Treading Water

Treading water through time
With my wellingtons pushing back
Anything that clings on. I step
With a certain scepticism; like
I can feel the chain of cause and effect
Harrowing down on my feet.

I should have been the finest vessel
Sailing the seas of your mantelpiece.

Instead I'm the sails facing windward,
Crucified to the heckling audience
Of the future. I want to drop anchor
And ground myself against the storm of circumstance
But we sail on regardless.

I should have taken a deeper breath
And paddled back to shore.

I should have wrung these memories

And walked on as before

I should have been a stronger man;

It doesn't matter anymore.