I Wonder What It Feels Like to be Drowned?
LOOK at my knees,
That island rising from the steamy seas!
The candle’s a tall lightship; my two hands
Are boats and barges anchored to the sands,
With mighty cliffs all round; 5
They’re full of wine and riches from far lands....
I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?
I can make caves,
By lifting up the island and huge waves
And storms, and then with head and ears well under 10
Blow bubbles with a monstrous roar like thunder,
A bull—of—Bashan sound.
The seas run high and the boats split asunder....
I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?
The thin soap slips 15
And slithers like a shark under the ships.
My toes are on the soap—dish—that’s the effect
Of my huge storms; an iron steamer’s wrecked.
The soap slides round and round;
He’s biting the old sailors, I expect.... 20
I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?
