What’s that on your neck?
A Deep Dive
All lined up at the pool edge. Dive he says!
Water wrecks my band-aided neck. A bulbous mark meets the 100-meter.
Arm pushes pressured waves, chest twists, lips prune in pool air
Chlorine stings the rash, crackled skin cracking further.
Gangly legs shift gear. I gulp, go under.
A hole in my neck, like a mouth widening, warping
Greasy ooze exits out. Something wriggles.
Gasp! Doggy-paddling in place. Get out. Go!
A multi-armed mass clambering out, no smaller than a squirrel.
Grip and grab air. Concrete edge so near.
A frog squeezes, stretches the sides, pus flooding out
Another stranger squirming. More. Flesh-pipe clogged, dark and bright liquid bursting between beings.
I’m out, gagging, gasping. Groveling on solid ground.
Hand to neck. Smooth skin. Nothing there.
I take a breath.
