Freedom

Waking up from a long, heavy dream

My head pounding

I pull my eyes up

Just over the seawater line

But my shoulders ache

From the chains

Below the surface.

The air is warm

Touching my hair

Sighing around my ears

In a barely heard whisper.

Should I?

Could I?

I find the first clasp

Cold and heavy

Slip it off my

Far too skinny wrist

And watch the dark of weight

Float silently down

Never to reappear

Another chain follows

Dropping from my left shoulder

Swinging around with a bump

Before it too falls

To the bottom of the sea

I glance around

To see if anyone

Sees me

Irresponsible

They do

But they can't stop me

For they are still chained down themselves

Another shove

And both shoulders wrestle free

The biggest weight around my waist

Slips down my hips

My thighs

And with a little clip on my left ankle

Drops away

And now, unfettered

I can swim to shore.