Tainted Treasure

Tainted treasure lurks beneath
the placid ocean's mirror calm.
Buried under dark deceit,
it beckons with its briny balm.

She stands upon the rocky beach
and stares into the depths below
to treasure drifting out of reach,
hidden in the undertow.

A storm is crying at her back.
It's begging her to turn away
from beauty soiled with lies so black,
with secrets and betrayal.

But the beach is full of pain
from broken shells and rocks.
Filled with anguish, the girl strains
against the one-way walk.

The walk into the depths beneath,
away from rooted fear.
To swim is to admit defeat,
but treasure draws her near.

She nearly runs from troubled strife,
to swim in seas sublime
but before she takes a dive
looks back a final time.

In the angry storm she finds
a memory of a brighter day,
rose petals drifting on the wind,
and she decides to stay.

Tainted treasure lurks beneath,
but she turns and walks away.
To swim is to admit defeat.
In bad times she will stay.

Penned by my hand on the 4th of Daedalan, in the year 445 AF.