Oakland Summer | Teen Ink

Oakland Summer

March 18, 2024
By King_KDA ELITE, Burlington, Washington
King_KDA ELITE, Burlington, Washington
111 articles 0 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Numquam finitur, donec vita finiatur."
- K. D'Angelo Alexander


Young, and brave

Exploring the Deep End,

Six years of age

Clinging onto the edge


Cold, wet stone,

Fingers starting to slip

The danger unknown;

Just a fun Summer trip


My grip let go,

Too sudden to cry out

Plunging into the cold depths;

Crystal water silencing my shouts


The stinging of the chlorine in my eyes,

As I grasp without purchase for the light;

The bright Oakland Sun in the sky

Reflecting through the suffocating coffin of water, 

In which I thought I would die


Lifetimes passed in seconds,

Eternity died that day

And by my grandfather’s grace,

From Death’s cold embrace, I was saved


Disregarding my dignity, because I had almost drowned

Salty tears mixed with chlorine-water on my face

Lungs burning, throat raw, surrounded by concerned frowns

None of those mattered; I was lost, and now found


And by the resilience only a child can display,

I was learning to swim the very next day 


The author's comments:

This poem is an account of an experience I had as a child, when my flight to Dallas was delayed. Staying at a Motel 6 with my grandparents, I made friends with some other kids who were staying there at the time, and even though I did not know how to swim, I decided to play with them. My grandparents were talking with one of the boy’s grandmother, as I was playing in the shallow end. Trying to look cool, as everyone else in the pool was able to swim in the six-feet end, I inched my way over along the edge. 

Kicking and thrashing underwater for about two minutes, everyone except my grandfather thought I was just “messing around,” and so they paid no attention. Thanks to him, I have been able to conquer numerous bodies of water in the ten years that have passed since that day.


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.