I beheld many friends, and the friend I loved the most,

helplessly sink into the swamp

I pass by daily.

And a drowning was not over in a single morning.

Often it took

many weeks; this made it more terrible.

And the memory of our long

agreeing talks about the swamp, which already

held so many.

Powerless now I saw him leaning back

covered with leeches

in the shimmering

softly moving slime. Upon the sinking

face the ghastly

blissful smile.