Boating in the Open Ocean

by Andrew Roberts

Boating in the open ocean

everyone travels through:

destined for great adventure,

seeking wisdom, losing course.

Sunshine and bright horizons

turned to a mighty storm.

My bright blue wonder

broke into a midnight angst.

The boat rocked:

I felt sick.

I felt scared.

I felt alone with myself.

My once beloved boat

tipped and washed

me overboard.

I sank into oblivion.

And yet,

part of me wanted to sink,

deeper

and deeper still.

It felt right

for some twisted reason.

I could feel the floor reaching

for me, pulling me under.

It seemed so near,

but I couldn’t sink.

Something stopped me.

Something grasped me.

It pulled me out of the water,

saving me from drowning,

saving me from the Earth’s

Sea of Apprehension.

But I couldn’t open my eyes.

They stung with

the fires

of the open ocean.

I was blinded

by the salty water.

I was drenched

in the merciless ocean.

It enveloped every part

of my being—

my skin blanketed

and consumed by it.

Then, as if I had help,

I defeated this obstacle

to my voyage

and boarded my boat.

And though the sea rocked,

I still rode.

And though boats were lost and scuttled,

I still rode.

But in my soul,

I had a rugged gratitude.

I was allowed to keep steering my boat

toward the familiar coast.

And now I have faith,

that wherever I go,

He will never

let me sink.

Andrew Roberts is a writer, thespian, and musician. He loves to help others through his school’s leadership institute and enjoys his creative writing class best. When he isn’t in school, he plays story-mode video games and studies story-telling media so he, too, can become a better writer. He dreams of becoming a working actor and playwright one day. He loves spending his downtime with his friends and family. This is his first publication.