A black pool surrounds my toes,                                           Tickles them,                                                                         Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my feet,
Soaks my shoes and hugs my bones,
Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my shins,
Bruises them purple,
Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my thighs,
Pinches them,
Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my chest,
Presses my lungs,
Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my neck,
Strangles me,
Then crawls on.

A black pool surrounds my head,
Blankets me in darkness,
Then stops.

A speck of light appears.
Then another.
Then another.

Soon the darkness is broken
And a new being emerges.
A being filled with love
And energy
And hope.

A being that fought for survival,
That fought through the most rigorous of times.

A being that beat the odds.                                                          A being that beat the black pool.