Our English Poem Collection

Ember (AmbergrisJane)

I have made a mistake.

A grievious one.

I, again, in my folly,

Underestimated the ocean.

I felt strong,

Confident.

Ready to take on the raging waves.

And so I jumped.

I felt the water kiss my toes,

Its steely tongues of ice

Like knives on skin pulled taut.

I knew right there and then,

I have jumped to my death.

I moved my limbs,

To fight the cold,

To keep afloat,

But alas,

I had no hold against

the titan beneath my feet.

And so I sink.

Slowly, slowly

into the arms of darkness.

Drowning willingly.

Resigned to my fate.

Ready to die.

And ready to die, I was.

Until I felt it.

A tiny spark.

An almost extinguished flame.

A dying ember fanned again,

Slowly glowing with a desire to burn anew.

I felt its heat

spread within my veins,

Giving power

to what I thought

Was an already dead heart.

With newfound strength,

I dare my limbs to move.

I flail against the darkness,

Moving,

Thrashing,

Whatever it takes,

To reach the surface.

So I swim.

I swim to escape my watery grave.

Through the darkness.

Through the cold.

Through my fear.

I swim until I see it.

True light.

With one last breath,

One mighty push,

I break into the surface,

Gulping the sweet and salty air,

My wringed lungs have sorely missed.

I unabashedly weep in celebration,

my salty tears

giving the salty water

a tinge of sweetness.

I calmy float among the waves,

Grateful for that spark.

My ember which refused to die.

I swore to protect it.

Keep it burning.

Fan its flames once in a while.

For without it,

that tiny sliver of light upon the darkness,

I would not have escaped the abyss.