I’m down from the kayak in the water and so is my phone.
My brother and I had been kayaking for thirty minutes
When I decided to hop out of the kayak and
Swim for a little in the ten foot deep lagoon.
I took my phone out to record the beautiful view underwater.
The view beneath the water was extraordinary,
Beautiful coral reefs, fish swimming next to me, white sand,
It was amazing to see the beautiful land structures of the Lagoon.
However, the strap from the waterproof case was limiting my range of motion
So I took the strap off from my neck to get a better video.
The fish would swim to me in interest just as I was interested in them.
Swimming with the fish through their home with me as their guest.
Eventually I went up to the surface for air and to relax.
My brother called me to get back to the kayak so we could explore some more.
I put my goggles on, snorkel in my mouth and swim towards him
To get a look at the scenery here before we go around.
As I swam in his direction I lost focus of my phone,
And I let go of it in my hand as I thought it was still strapped to my neck.
I needed to swim freely without holding my phone, slowing me down.
Unknowingly my phone descended ten feet as I swam away.
It was only after returning to the kayak that I had realized
It was somewhere at the bottom of the lagoon.
My heart rate immediately rose but my mind was focused.
I needed to go back down into the water and find it.
My goggles came back on, no life vest so I could dive for my phone
And I began my search to find my phone.
I knew I had to hurry because the waterproof case could only survive for so long.
Besides it must have been almost ten minutes since I dropped it.
How did I manage to forgot my phone, something so valuable and expensive?
My focus was through the roof and I started swimming
Like a Navy SEAL on a search and rescue operation.
My brother was on the kayak scanning the area,
He spots what seems to resemble my phone.
It was in a black case at the bottom of clear water.
I swam to him, spotted my phone, took a deep breath and dove to get it.
The water pressure squeezing on my head, the water filling my ears,
The fish surrounding me and my phone laying there at the bottom.
I felt relief as I saw my phone and grabbed it from the depth of the lagoon.
As I returned to the surface, I finally went to relax as everything was fine.
People around were cheering as I found my phone.
I had tunnel visioned into the search that I was not even aware of my energy until after.
I was so tired from swimming and stress that I could lose everything on the phone.
The effort was all worth it and it will be a time that I will always remember.
It really felt like I had accomplished a mission. I am very proud of my swimming ability.
Come to think of it, I would do it again because it was so fun.
Dear Jeff,
ReplyDeleteGreat job keeping us in a particular moment in time, especially one that is so fraught because the speaker almost drowns. Your images and the music compliment the tone and theme of the piece well too. I wonder though why you weren't able to get the entirety of the poem into images; you've given us part of the poem in visuals, but not all of it. What was the challenge in moving this from text to video/images? In a way, this is a good exercise in how to revise, though the assignment was to attempt to visually capture the entire poem. Keep pushing yourself to stay in scene and in using description. In those moments when you do strive to be specific, your writing really comes to life.