beyond reach

the life guard
blows his whistle
and waves
from his chair
for you to come in.
you've gone too
far, you are too
deep, too distant
to be rescued.
you are beyond
saving at this point.
it's up to you
to swim in or
keep going.
the people lying
on the beach stand
up to watch, to
see what you will
do, wanting to
go further in their
own lives, but
also afraid, not
unlike you.