tired

[mikaelataber]

muscles pull against the current
feverishly resisting the snaking mass
washing down to the ocean
the pounding, churning, frothing, foaming sea
energy draining out stroke by stroke
bleeding awareness into the flowing water
burning sinews, aching bones, numb skin
stretched taught over slowing limbs
pulling harder and harder
slower and slower
the current steadily rolling
effortlessly falling over the earth,
watching sunsets disappear into sunrises into sunsets
running continuously toward the horizon
never meeting it
and here i remain, suspended in mid-stream
exhausting myself to the last cell
against the eternal pull
until i am spent
then i ride my river into the sunset
and am washed into the deep unfathomable
ocean where all rivers end