Swimming

Tags

Poetry, Swimming

The tug on my muscles

And the strain on my heart

Remind me that

I’m not as strong as I think I am,

Yet still I swim.

 

Alongside me, people splash.

The water churns around us all,

The waves

A product of our simultaneous scrambling.

 

Temporary neighbors,

Begrudging friends,

I realize that timing,

Not want,

Brings us near.

 

An accidental slap of my hand

Against the divider

Reminds me that I am to come no closer.

 

Back and forth,

Growing dizzy and faint,

Hunger begins to twitch my insides.

 

I ignore it,

Settling in for one more lap,

Aware that

Comfort is a poor teacher.