Sheltered from

the outside world,

you lurk and wait.

Minutes pass

or sometimes hours.

Distant voices

grow louder

as your door

creaks open.

A boat glides

into your quiet sky.

Through darkness

you swim, circling

until you rise.

Contorted faces appear,

wide white eyes

leering down

as screams

rumble your walls.

It’s over

in an instant

as you sink

back below.

But soon

the shadow returns,

only the faces

are different.

Surely this isn’t

your doing,

this sea

of horrified

monsters before you.

You open your mouth,

waiting for

their answers,

but their reactions

are still the same.

Bewildered,

you stare back,

offering them

the only expression

you have.

Just as soon

as they appear,

they are gone

into the night.

It would be

a good time

to rest

if you could

only close

your eyes.

after Jaws: Universal Studios Florida

Bruce in the Boathouse

Ian Valor

Poetry
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© 2026 Ian Valor