“If” I Could Only Swim

If I swam to the bottom of the lake
could I catch the stones
the ones that didn’t skip
but found another way.

If the world was different
no choices at birth
or predispositions
no boundaries for life
would there be forgiveness
if I chose another way.

If I drowned
would it be from fluidity
or would the current
slow me down.

If there was- - - - - - - -
an absence through the walls
could I bear the silence
or could the silence -
bear me.

If I were a rock
would I skim across the water -
would I sink.

If I could only swim ....
would I find -
me.