Tonight's Poet Corner: Sinking

Sinking
by Belinda Roddie

they say
if you find yourself
at the bottom
of the ocean
count to ten
and you'll resurface
by an island
painted gold

the bottom
of the ocean
cradles coffins
full of children
who were once
sailing to
a brand new world
painted gold

if you're worried
about drowning
at the bottom
of the ocean
pretend that you're
no longer human
and somehow
you'll magically

breathe water
and salt
breathe seaweed
and kelp
breathe fool's gold
and wishes
from spirits trapped
behind portholes