Riptide

you were drowning
and reached out to me
but I could feel you pulling me under

and then I started sinking
and reached flailing to you
but you couldn't hold me

and I realize
that in patience is surrender
a morsel for us both

we cannot always swim
against the current
or we will tire

we must wait out the riptide
and swim parallel to the shore
before swimming back in

so I am learning
to wait
to let this current carry me

for a little while
until