memories of moonlight and naked thoughts

In the middle of the dock
where the plank rotted through
I stand and look
at the water below
and listen while it laps the rock wall
like a dog drinking from a plastic bowl.

when the milkyway reaches halfway
across the sky
I step out to the end of the dock
strip off my clothes
stand naked in the chill
then dive into the black water

seconds pass
my body slices through
my arms at my side
my feet straight out
as I slowly
rise
to the surface.

with the soft splash
of hope
my face breaks through
and I breathe.