Bathysphere - Bill Callahan

When I was seven

I asked my mother

To trip me to the bay

And put me on a ship

And lower me down

Lower me out of here

Because when I was seven

I wanted to live in a bathysphere

Between coral

Silent eel

Silver swordfish

I can’t really feel or dream down here

And if the water should cut my line

And if the water should cut my line

Set me free

And if the water should cut my line

Set me free, I don’t mind

I’ll be the lost sailor, my home is the sea

When I was seven

My father said to me

'But you can’t swim'

And I’ve never dreamed of the sea again