There was a moment . . .

At least not naked like this . . .
and then that unknown voice revisits my thoughts and says,
"Do you believe your **** vanity?
You’re seconds away from taking your last breath and you're worried about how you're going to look naked.
You're going to look dead, that's how you're going to appear to everyone who loves you. Dead!"

I hear the owl hoot it seems to be closer now.
"My God, I don't want to die," I say out loud.
It hoots again, then again and again.
There's an urgency in its hoots.
As the owl continues hooting I can see the sound waves of its cry.

I begin trying to paddle my way towards the shallow edge,
staying in alignment with these sound waves, it’s like I'm moving through a tunnel.
The owl's hoots become louder and more frequent.
Then I feel my feet touch the bottom.

I can stand in the water.
God, does this feel good.
I hear one last, plaintive hoot from the owl.

I lay on the earth, listening to the water and looking at a moon so close I could poke my finger at it.
I keep repeating "My God, I don't want to die."
Then, all I am saying over and over is, “Oh God . .. God . . ."