the first time he eased his body into its coldness
he didn’t even know the name of it

but soon
after his head went under

(mildly panicking
briefly struggling to the surface for the suddenly needed air)

he quickly realized what its name should be
even if it didn’t have one

for the entire duration of that dark dangerous winter
he went every day to this sea of sorrow
drawn by something in between the very molecules of its water

he floated on his back
with an ease he had never experienced
the dark dense liquid giving him buoyancy

swimming inside this water
was a kind of slow sliding through mercury

and in its depths
he was blinded
touched
he was embraced by it

he couldn’t stop coming
returning each day with all the others

swimming in memories
comfortable
at home