100ft deep

i am a fish
swimming in the deep blue sea
struggling to surface
because i can't breathe down here

i am not a cowbell
i hit back
but i don't
because your aggression
traps me inside the six walls
of my shell

i pound on the windows, on the door
'let me out, let me out'
the words are caught
perfectly formed
tangled in my head
strangled in my throat
i choke

i paint the windows from the inside
like a closed down shop
'i'm not here anymore
move on, move away'

i write my silent words on paper boats
half hoping they'll float across the table
into your harbour
to deliver their messages
half knowing you won't risk allowing them to moor

i am fishing 100 ft. down
but the shoals have moved up
and i am struggling to surface