I Wonder What It Feels Like To Be Drowned?

Look at my knees, 

That island rising from the steamy seas! 

The candles a tall lightship; my two hands 

Are boats and barges anchored to the sands, 

With mighty cliffs all round;

They’re full of wine and riches from far lands…. 

I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?

I can make caves, 

By lifting up the island and huge waves 

And storms, and then with head and ears well under

Blow bubbles with a monstrous roar like thunder, 

A bull-of-Bashan sound. 

The seas run high and the boats split asunder…. 

I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?

The thin soap slips

And slithers like a shark under the ships. 

My toes are on the soap-dish—that’s the effect 

Of my huge storms; an iron steamer’s wrecked. 

The soap slides round and round; 

He’s biting the old sailors, I expect….

I wonder what it feels like to be drowned?