Though the river of time stopped br flowing for me I cannot leave the br water as yet - no flow or progress br possible sinking lower into depths br where coral is deep red the sun a br far-off blur and sea-creatures flee br these flaying legs br br Discomforting calm weighs wet on br eardrums in an unheeded descent br leaving disconnected others forking br into parallel space - alone in a cable br bundling time into tarred blackness br bells declaring Atlantis’ last hours br ringing in my head br br The great city sank beneath waves br hidden forever from earth life and br sunlight - an immobile island of mist- br shrouded legends told in a story br resembling life woven by small br minds folding and bending br infinite timelines together br br While I am shunted out of existence br stranded on a sideline sharing no joys br of desire or accomplished fulfilment br keeping hope time-frozen inside me br a magical talisman to light my eyes br as I wait for the return of meaning br and sound…br br Margaret Alice Secondbr br