Cold bitter waters

wash over slick

wooden edges in sprays

of fear – frigid

and tiny little piercings

of pin-pricks of wet

pain weary and numb

worn limbs, as darkness

masks the icy swales

of this emotional torrent.

clinging to the storm

shaken lifeboat barely

buoyant breath held

on heaving swales,

praying to any god

that listens for an end

to my sun shunned days.