Near Death

At thirteen I nearly died 

by drowning while swimming in

a lake with a church youth group.

Sinking into the soggy

bottom, my whole world lit up—

I saw I was light itself.

I felt at ease, at home with 

dying, so imagine my

surprise when our pastor did

snatch me from the deep.

This was the second time I

found myself losing my self.

But then, this is so common—

all of us disappear when’er

we fall into deep sleep.

The trick is to remember

so to realize, every breath 

brings us nigh unto death.

Practicing presence loosens
the grip on self, so to taste

Unborn Self, untouched by death.