APED: "swimming hole"

It's deep. I don't know just how far.
The chains won't let me swim.
The fish avoid me. I'm apart
from normal things like them.
As for who chained me -- never mind.
It was so long ago.
I've been here for a long, long time.
It's not so bad. Although...

I'd like to have some friends again.
For it's been far too long.
The chains kept me away from them.
That's why I sang my song:
A song of old and lonely things.
A song of souls laid bare.
A song of long-forgotten kings.
A song of beasts made fair.

And deep inside their heart of hearts,
their loneliness came out.
So they swam down. They played their part.
And then I just reached out.
Of course they struggled. That was play.
We were the best of friends.
They rotted soon and fell away.
I was alone again.

I sing not of forgotten kings,
Although my song was true.
For now I'm much too old to sing.
My hopes are all on you.
The voices I hear far up there
Stir me from my sleep.
Your friends are swimming. Take their dare.
Hold your breath. Dive deep.