The Lake

Remember swimming in the lake that one Summer day?

In this memory I feel the sun
and see sparkly white light bouncing off slow waves
as our laughing eyes and mouth go below and above the surface.

When all of a sudden
the bottom turns over
and floats to the top.

Engulfed in unknown sewage
and other things,
more terrifying than bathing in a tub of leeches.

Murky chunks of lake bottom against our skin,
stomachs turning, we franticly swim to shore,
to be dry, to be clean.

They say this happens often,
the lake revealing its secrets. As if this makes us feel any better
as it's happening.