Staying Afloat by Marisa Signora
staying afloat mirrors images;
a girl on a raft drifting on the huge expanse of the ocean
lost in time and space
the scolding harshness of the sun on her whole body
the relentless winds hurling around attacking her from all directions
threatening to plunge her in, never to be seen again
and maybe never missed
through the tornadoes of rain, cutting her like thin shards of glass
clinging on for life
numb, frozen, too terrified to let go, loosen her grip – even slightly
still staying afloat, shivering through the extremities of the nights
and days combining into one long never ending nightmare of constant bobbing
only broken by small moments of calm
blindfolded through so much darkness, navigating her demons
constantly triggered by the strange echoing night sounds looming across the water
from under the water
from everywhere
it didn’t seem fair she couldn’t see what she was battling
yet somehow she could ‘see’ much clearer
still staying afloat when every ounce of her being wants to give in
let her grip loosen
surrender to the water, to the demons
let her body slowly sink into depths of the dark swirling pool
answer their beckoning, it was tempting
so many times she felt her resolve evaporating, dissolving, melting
and feeling its toll
still staying afloat helpless yet
within a molecule of faith that still remains
she knows she can prevail.
Here I see myself…
Poem and art by Marisa Signora ©2024
Analysis of the poem: Staying Afloat
Staying afloat with the imagery of a girl on a raft lost at sea, is a symbol for how I can feel inside myself at times. When the world becomes too demanding or overwhelming, even the self-imposed pressures can at times bog me down and left feeling very lost.
I have tried to create vivid emotive energy through the similes and metaphors used. The intense feelings of the girl on the raft, through time change. There is extreme fear of the unknown, the will and fight to survive, the reaction to cling on to everything and anything.
Within the darkness of the nights, even in the extremities of scorching heat of the day, without even really recognising it at the time, she starts to see things much more clearly, looking inward. When true survival takes hold for any length of time and everything is stripped bare, there is opportunity to really see inside your own soul, fears, dreams, and your true self.
Eventually with this new insight, she realises that all she can really have is her faith in life, her will to survive, yet what will be will be. Without giving up, she surrenders and in this surrendering she finds her real power and her real strength. There is some rhyming to help the flow, yet I wanted a slightly non rhyming staggered effect to simulate the bobbing motion of the sea.
I end it with ‘here I find myself’ as I feel this is the process I often go through in my own head when I am struggling, yet in truth we all hold our own power to create and be.
About the Poet
I was born in Milan and largely lived in the UK. I have taught primary aged children for quite some time as well as performed in various music bands as a vocalist and dancer. I moved to Catalonia, Spain, over four years ago for an off grid alternative, close to the land lifestyle, on an almond finca.
I have been writing poetry in English since I could speak at the age of eight and am currently in the process of finishing my first novel. I have always loved writing and have recently started to create watercolour art which I often use with my poetry.
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