Shifting Resolve

The calm swept through him
and his panic transitioned to peace.
Inky blue water enveloped him,
becoming his cradle, not his casket,
and his face was serenity itself.

Moments ago he thrashed and fought
feeling duped, lured, deceived.
A sailor, a swimmer, he loved the sea
Now this devotee to watery magnificence
was victim to its salty suffocation.

Just minutes before that he stood
on the deck of his craft. listening,
transfixed to songs from the waters
the siren's serenade penetrating his soul
dulcet tunes, sliding into his ears,
the sonorous tones, wrapped like tentacles
round his heart, and round his will.

Not five minutes earlier he thought he had seen her:
this maid of the sea swiftly swimming, circling,
nearly surfacing, then elusively diving: teasing his hopes.
Leaning over, peering into the choppy sea surface so intently
heightened his vulnerability once the enchantment of song began.
Was it his free choice then to step off the boat
and slice down into the vast, awesome world of the sea?

She saw him struggle, then saw him give in,
The fair creature witnessed this shift and was startled.
Disturbing it was to see him: one moment, as she had planned,
fighting and flailing his way to fatigue; then the next,
as his eyes met hers, resigned to accept his fate.
In that instant she read the change and its meaning,
In that moment he nodded, confirming her guess.

The song, and her countenance, all of her charms,
he chose as the life he wanted to have,
though it be but minutes before his lungs filled,
these moments he treasured beyond all he'd known.
Saving his life was not what he wanted,
embracing this glimpse was all that he sought.

With that the mermaid swirled into action,
she swept the seaman up into her arms.
Her flukes propelled them fleetly to the surface.
her squeeze forced the water out of his chest.
He sputtered and coughed his way into breathing.

So she lay there ashore for the next several moments,
surprised by the shift from her usual plan,
his movement from panic to calm quite inspired
her movement from menace to mercy and love.
As his consciousness slowly returned,
she edged back toward the foamy pounding surf.
She turned, he looked, and as salty tears filled their eyes
so filled their hearts with peace.

(The photos are taken from Photobucket and the original one posting them there can be learned by clicking on the photos.)