Under the Ice

Gothenburg was points of light
A mirror of the south west sky
We left our clothes
And gingerly across the ice
We walked onto the frozen sea
Our breath hanging in the air
Like personal rain clouds
We found the ice hole and jumped
Swimming down into the dark
Amphibians headed for the other side
The creatures remembered us
And welcomed us
And we rejoiced
We danced in their glittering halls
Of algae and coral towers
Feasted on carrageen
And drank down their venom wine
Until the ocean's drift was doubled
And thrown about
And we woke in an old cabin
Wood stove and painted halls
Huddled in that ancient bed
Whilst neither of us spoke
About what had happened under the ice
We lay like that
For what seemed like hours
But in the end you rose
And opened the door
To let in the cool air
Then stood naked and glorious
In the centre of the room
You looked sad
And when I asked you what was wrong
You started to cry
I was puzzled
Even more so as the tears hit your torso
And blossomed at each point of contact
Into small white feathers
Which multiplied and spread
Until you were no longer standing before me
And in your place
Stood a magnificent white bird
Come down under the ice again
We're going under the ice again
Craving back into life again
Let's dive under the ice again
The albatross cocked its head to one side
As if to ask a question
And then it was gone
Waddling awkwardly to the door
Before spreading its black-edged wings
And lifting into the sky suddenly
Perhaps the most graceful thing I had ever seen
I never did see you again
But I often think about our night under the ice
And who I might be today
Had I managed to keep you with me
I think maybe it could have worked out
But I'm sure you had your own reasons for leaving
Either way I wish you well
And wherever you are
I hope you're happy
Come down under the ice again
We're going under the ice again
Craving back into life again
Let's dive under the ice again
Come down under the ice again
We're going under the ice again
Craving back into life again
Let's dive under the ice again
Come down under the ice again
We're going under the ice again
Craving back into life again
Let's dive under the ice again