“Go.”
Take a deep breath
Push off the wall
Don’t let your feet slip
Don’t waste any time
Not even
A second
Close your eyes if it’s easier
Easier to move towards your destination
Without knowing
How close
You really are
“Keep going”
You tell yourself
“It hasn’t been that long”
“Keep going ”
Stroke
After stroke
After stroke
For a second
Dare to open your eyes
Dare to know
How close
You really are
“Keep going”
You tell yourself
“You’re almost there”
“Keep going”
Knowing
That you can’t
Give up
Grit your teeth
Close your eyes again
Swim towards the wall
Rest
Air
Satisfaction
Is within your reach
Feel the smooth tile of the wall
Beneath your hands
Open your eyes
See
You’ve made it
You’re done
Breathe
Stop and appreciate
The feel of oxygen going
In
And out
Of your lungs
Feel the pride of what you’ve done
Fill you up
Make you smile
Make you want to do it again
Dear Zoe – Lynne and I were delighted to receive and read your wonderfully thoughtful
poetry. We know you took a writing class over the Summer and began writing poetry
at that time (perhaps it began long before?).
You have a real gift and we thank you for sharing it with us. With lots of love,
G-Lynne and G-Tom