The Caves

In a cave I may already be dead,

prematurely placed under the 

earth to wander in darkness.

I’ve had a long held fear of

being buried alive, yet the 

cool silence called my name.

As a teen we explored one 

hidden under a tree on some

farmer’s land, lowered by a rope.

I wore snoopy sunglasses just

for fun, as if it wasn’t dark 

enough, proving nothing.

Another time it was water-

filled passageways, clinging

to the walls, my flashlight lost.

Yet we continued on with 

only one flashlight between us

suppressing a flickering fear.

And then that time of crawling

flat, the ceiling touching my back 

squeezing me out of existence.

But then in the end there was 

always the sun to return to 

and warm us back to life.

***