Quicksand

Nobody sees the quicksand.

I sense it beneath my feet
The path becomes unclear, outlook blurred
I stutter.
It laughs.

I gasp and I grasp
The shoulders and fingers of friends
Drag myself from its depths
Exhausted, defiant, alive.

I continue
Cautiously at first
But arrogance prevails, teases
‘I am stronger now, untouchable.’

Eternally unforgiving
One misstep, one lapse, one premature sigh
It waits, wills, hungry
Terrifying yet inviting
All consuming.

Competing interestsNone.

Provenance and peer reviewNot commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

Source: Medical Humanities - August 23, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Murphy, K. Tags: Poetry and prose Source Type: research