Anxiety’s Ocean/Logan Stefl

i close my eyes
feel myself being pushed
and pulled
rocked back and forth 
from the immense power 
of the waves

i stomach it for some time 
but the nauseating feeling 
makes me open my eyes
only to discover 
that i’ve sunk deeper
and deeper
the pressure 
weighing down on my lungs
i try to breathe
but i’ve fallen too deep
to find any relief

i finally sink
to the deep-sea floor
drowning in darkness
miles of ocean on top of me
i try to swim
but my limbs won’t move
the only way out 
is to let myself drift 
back to the beach
so i close my eyes
and hope 
to see the sun 
the next time i wake

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Logan Stefl graduated from St. Norbert in 2022, majoring in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and minoring in Communication Studies. He enjoys reading and writing, along with playing guitar and drawing. He currently resides in his hometown of Shawano, Wisconsin.