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Walk the Plank

Sitting on that pirate ship
Surrounded by friends and family
Comforted; not alone
But I'm pushed away

I'm forced to the edge of the boat
'Walk the plank' is what I'm told
I tremble and I want to turn back
I want that comfort again

I'm pushed to the ladder
Forced to climb
I don't want to
Why do I have to do this alone?

Get to the top of the ladder,
See the long journey ahead of me
I don't think I can do this
I'm scared

I look back and they push me forward
I have no choice but to keep going
One foot in front of the other
Baby steps

I'm shaking as I walk on that thin piece of wood
Tears are rolling down my cheeks
My hands are stretched out to the side,
Fingers grasping for someone to hold on to

Yet I have no hand to grab;
I'm alone

I stare down at the icy blue water beneath me
The sharks swimming in circles
The slightest breeze threatens to knock me over
Someone help me...please

I want to stop where I am and just collapse
I don't want to go any further
But I do
They say I have to

At the edge of the plank I look down
The beginning of the journey was hard
But now I've reached the most difficult part
My heart races as they pressure me to jump

There is no one around now
No one is going to help me
I'm on my own
I have to jump

I take a deep breath and I do
Plunge downward; screaming, crying
I regret it as I'm falling
Why did I do that?

I hit the water; not as painful as expected
Where are the sharks, the icy waters?
I surface and look around
This is different from what I saw from the plank

The water is a warm blue, like paradise
The sharks are dolphins, playing around
The weight is off my shoulders
I lie on my back and soak up the sun

My heartbeat slows to normal
My tears dry up
It's beautiful here
Seems the journey was the worst part.

Author notes

This poem represents the journey to finding strength - although you can apply it to any situation where you have to accomplish something on your own. Sometimes you HAVE to travel on that journey - and it just might be alone. I'm used to people holding my hand, helping me through it, picking me up when I fall. But for once I'm on a journey where there's no one around...it's lonely and it sucks, but I know once I find that strength, I'll be happy; that paradise with dolphins instead of icy waters and sharks.

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Comments


  • GreenHrtPaleMoon gold member
    July 30

    Edit | Reply
    This was a tad overlong and filled with filler words. You had some interesting concepts and word choices however. Best of luck!


  • Lowercase Prelude gold member
    July 7
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    Peter Pan came to my mind when I started reading this. Your imagery is fantastic in this piece.
  • kales4
    July 6

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    Thank you for entering my contest. I really enjoyed this poem. I am going to attend college in the fall and i think this poem relates to how I feel it may be. Great write and good luck
  • hardeepb
    July 1

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    Imagery

    I can picture this all happening as you've written it. Beautiful. Thought intertwined with a situation that seems like it can never happen because it has to do with pirates...but it's far from you. You stick it out and eventually something good will happen.

    One thing to keep in mind...there are a lot of things that you're forced to do alone...some things you force...and somethings you choose. There are certain things where you don't have to be alone anymore...

    Very nice imagery...'Pirates of the Caribbean'-esque...very unique! 8/10!