In the past, 

I had lived there.

I often liked to remember 

Memories from there.

I opened my eyes.

They stung with salt,

But I kept them open

To see the beauty there. 

I saw the coral, the fish, 

And the sand.

It was colorful with

Rays of light shining

From the top of the ocean.

The water was shallow,

But also deep, there.

My eyes burned

And I needed to breathe.

I tried to hold it, 

But I couldn’t.

I swam up

To the surface.

It was cold,

But I could breathe

Again.

I took one big breath,

And I swam back down.

I saw the coral again.

The beautiful red,

The rough green, 

And the bumpy purple.

It was beautiful there.

But here and now, 

I go in the water.

My eyes get cold,

But they no longer sting.

It is not pleasant, though.

The water is dark, green, and dirty.

Coral is not here.

Instead, there is Seaweed 

Covering the ground.

There is no light 

shining from above.

The water is shallow

And impossible to swim in.

I cannot dive

Like I used to do there.

I'd hit the bottom

and get tangled in seaweed.

Here was worse

than There.

I wish I could go back.

Back when I was there.

There, it was peaceful 

With all of the colors

And the bright, clear water.

There and Here

Are very different. 

I miss there, 

where I would have fun

swimming with the fish.

The stinging in my eyes

Was comfortable there. 

I remember that

At first, it hurt.

But later,

When I got used to being there,

It felt normal. 

But I know

That I can't think of there forever.

I have to move on

And get used to here.

Soon, I might get used to here.

I might feel at home again.