There is no word to describe

how quiet it is after the door slams.

There is no adjective cold enough for the linoleum,

or salty enough for the tears

that fall from your eyes.

There isn’t a word,

but there is a feeling,

maybe too many feelings.

Like gasping for air with broken goggles,

everything you end up with is soggy.

Conscious drowning in every emotion

you didn’t know you had.

Its exhilarating, and terrifying;

a tidal rush.

You’re on Mount Everest.

You are Mount Everest.

But, there is no air,

and you’re back in that pool,

floundering without floaty-wings,

coughing and sputtering,

while waves of fiery water

that don’t taste or feel like water at all,

keep pounding and pounding.

They tried to teach you

how to tread water,

to stay afloat in a rough sea,

but there is no word for just how scary it is,

when you realize, 

you can’t.