Taking On Water (Poetry)

I find myself searching for something to do
something that doesn’t remind me
of all these long hours to simply get through
until this depression’s behind me

Something to steer my attention away
from the worries that hassle my head
a task that’s mundane but will take up the day
and distract such dire feelings of dread

There are plenty of chores I would blithely ignore
I have put off some jobs for a while
quite suddenly they’re what I’m now looking for
though I can’t say they conjure a smile

But the urge to keep busy’s increasingly strong
or I may well go out of my mind
it’s a game — a diversion that chivvies along
so the cogs do their grumbling grind

And evening’s the port that my sinking ship seeks
I’ve been taking on water for years
now I’m swabbing the decks as I plug up the leaks
and the bilge pumps out sweat and salt tears

While the body works hard the mind takes a break
so I find something gruelling to do
try to smother sly madness for sanity’s sake
it’s all simply a way to get through