I dove deep into the ink and paper, 

as a bear would dive into a lake. 

I searched for the words and feelings to replace 

the reserves I had used up from an endless wanting. 

This was my hibernation through the endless winter, 

the calmness pressed upon me as I swam further down,

never reaching the merky bottom.

I sat there so long I should have drown,

the bear had surfaced for air long ago, 

but I could breathe better here than on dry land. 

I would hide below until I was found, 

until I was wrenched from the beautiful waters of my fantasy

and thrust onto the land of reality, 

forced to face the bitter chill of a frost-coated night. 

But while still submerged I was not alone, 

for from the water came a figure. 

One of pure imagination, 

a figment of another. 

And so you see I was in much company. 

They came is swarms and flocks, 

each group in their own separate universe, 

all combining to form my galaxy of companions.

The replacements to those who were all shut up in their own winter burrows, 

but they were not as clever as I for I was alone in this lake.

No.

I was not alone, 

I was, after all, surrounded.

By shells of thoughts that I had stolen, 

to resolve my own loneliness and isolation.

And suddenly they were upon me, 

clawing at my skin, 

forcing me to stay submerged as water demanded to be welcomed into my lungs.

Mercifully something began to pull me upwards,

out of reach from whatever lay below.

Prepared against the true cold and bitterness that surly was to follow,

I must admit to shock. 

As I was lifted out of my lake

to find the winter of desperation had gone,

and had been replaced instead by a warm summer’s day. 

But while standing there, 

on that beach,

I was not alone.

for from the Earth, alive and well, 

came a figure, steadily approaching. 

One not of imagination,

for I am certain it was real. 

But made instead of flesh and bone,

someone who could feel as I feel. 

And so you see I was in much company,

standing there on solid ground.

For when I looked up from my book,

There was a world of friends to be found.