It’s Alright To Float

Until you know you will not drown,
you must not try to save anyone else.
Stay away from those who are also thrashing about
trying to survive,
lest in their panic
you both are sucked below.

You are tired.
It is alright to float, to relax
to look around and see
nothing else has changed
while you struggle for your life,

All the stars are still in the sky.
Birds still sing
flowers still bloom.

Just float for now
even if you do not want to stay here forever,
though you feel you have so much reason
to get to the shore,
to go for help, to save others.

The fog will lift, the morning will awaken
you will see you are much nearer the shore
than you thought.
Just float.

©1991 Sharron R. McMillan