Forty-six

I nearly drowned, this year gone by
A feeble, frightful way to die
The waves too rough, the tide too strong
A frolic in the surf gone wrong

The year itself was full and bright
(There is no shadow without light):
My lovely daughter turned eighteen
My nephew earned the keys to life
My work took flight on silver screen
The year was peaceful, without strife

We nearly drowned, my love and I
Beneath that sunny summer sky
Dragged out to sea, the undertow
We feared it was our time to go

The other days were amply spent
On journeys, near and far, we went:
From pyramids and jungles green
To mirrored lakes and canyon walls
From mountains, caves and crystal streams
To crescent sands and gothic halls

We nearly drowned, first of July
With no regrets and no goodbye
The ocean made its power known
(At least we’d not have died alone)

The life we live is ebb and flow
The winters come, the summers go:
At times, the world is fresh and new
Love buds and blooms and casts its spell
At times, we barely make it through
We ache, we breathe, we live to tell

I nearly drowned, this year gone by
There are no rhymes or reasons why
But I’m still here, still in the mix
Alive and well at forty-six