Diver’s Prayer

AS THE WATERS CLOSE O’ER ME
AND THE DEPTHS PRESS IN ROUND ME
I AGAIN SENSE THE NEED OF A GREATER ONE’S CARE.
WHILE I’M SLOWLY DESCENDING
INTO EVERY THOUGHT’S BLENDING
THE INSTINCTIVE DIVER’S PRAYER.

THO I GROPE, OFT UNSEEING,
AND AT TIMES WITH FEAR FLEEING
FROM THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT MY DARK QUEST WILL UNCOVER,
I’M CONSTRAINED IN MY SEARCHING
FOR AGAIN IS EMERGING
THE INSTINCTIVE DIVER’S PRAYER.

BECAUSE DIVING’S LIKE LIVING.
WE ARE SO OFTEN GIVING
NO THOUGHT TO THE LIFE LINE THAT GIVES US OUR AIR,
TILL WE’RE MADE TO FEEL HELPLESS
AND DISASTER PROPELS US
TO GOD AND THE DIVER’S PRAYER.

THEN EXHAUSTED, ASCENDING,
I LOOK UP AS UNENDING
THE PEARLS OF MY CONSCIOUSNESS RACE TO THE SURFACE.
SURE SIGNS OF THE ANSWER
TO MY FAITH AND HOPE DOWN THERE
I ANEW BREATH THE DIVER’S PRAYER.

DR. GERALD MUSSELMAN