Flooded Room

   he is floating
in the ocean
                          under a darkening sky
trying to drink                
or see                

he swims

                                         into a room full of water
treading voices
listening
to others there

A thin woman
                 with dark hair
                               and night-lit face
swims over to him

She is naked
                         pulling him
meeting his eyes
with open lips

But when he reaches
                                           timidly

in words
or gestures

she pushes away
as if
he is unable
                                          to be with her

and he remembers
                even into childhood
that she
                                       has always been
untouchable