Chapter 24 an encounter
The interface failed me; the salt-stinging burn
Alerted my senses; insisted I learn,
Kaleidoscopic, the images twirled-
Inventing my key to this puzzling world,
Never again shall I wander, unscathed,
Gilding adventure, ineffably brave.
Ashes of memory, lost on a wave!
Choked by a notion, returned to the thought,
Haste was my mentor, by whom I'd be taught,
Accused by my conscience of errors in hope-
Nerve was declining – but there was a rope!
Clawed in my fingers, the tow-line of breath,
Eluded my reason, and cheated my death.
Oh for an essence to capture ideas
Noted and filed in pursuit of my fears!
Ashes of memory, wept in my tears.
Spluttered and breathless I surfaced again,
To stare in surmise through the mask of my pain,
Reading the eyes of the fisher unknown;
Aghast and astonished; I'd thought me alone!
Neptune or naiad? Resolved to befriend
Greeting while wordless? Offensive? Forfend!
Engaged with my struggle, conclusions too late-
Regarding my state he said; "Bugger, me, mate!"
Alerted my senses; insisted I learn,
Kaleidoscopic, the images twirled-
Inventing my key to this puzzling world,
Never again shall I wander, unscathed,
Gilding adventure, ineffably brave.
Ashes of memory, lost on a wave!
Choked by a notion, returned to the thought,
Haste was my mentor, by whom I'd be taught,
Accused by my conscience of errors in hope-
Nerve was declining – but there was a rope!
Clawed in my fingers, the tow-line of breath,
Eluded my reason, and cheated my death.
Oh for an essence to capture ideas
Noted and filed in pursuit of my fears!
Ashes of memory, wept in my tears.
Spluttered and breathless I surfaced again,
To stare in surmise through the mask of my pain,
Reading the eyes of the fisher unknown;
Aghast and astonished; I'd thought me alone!
Neptune or naiad? Resolved to befriend
Greeting while wordless? Offensive? Forfend!
Engaged with my struggle, conclusions too late-
Regarding my state he said; "Bugger, me, mate!"