Cypress Swamps

There are cypress swamps
In East Texas
Where a man can lose himself
For a day
Or forever.

Water like ink.
Trees as ancient
As the muck of their anchor
And a smell you’ll only know
Once you’ve arrived
Wait for you to have a bad day
And need a place to disappear.

The water there never moves.
It is as still as the Devil’s heart.

Wade into its despair
And it will talk to you.

I’ve been waiting for you
It will say.
What took you so long?

It doesn’t matter
It will assure you.
You’re so welcome here
It will say.
Stay as long as you like
Leave whenever you must.

That is
Of course
An abject lie.

There is no leaving a cypress swamp.
You will neither remember why you came
Nor the way out.

The cypress swamps of East Texas
Are made for misery.
Especially misery like yours.