inkstained: Lap Swimming

Lap Swimming

Free lap swim until six o'clock

Pink painted toes curl against white tile

Hesitant to leave solid ground.

But I take a deep breath and spring forward

My feet splash through the cool clear blue

And I’m on my way.

My heart is beating to the rhythm of a breaststroke

And there’s nothing left to think about,

Just legs propelling, arms pulling, lungs breathing

Progress.

I’m beginning to wonder if college is a little like lap swimming

Because no matter how prepared you are,

Towel and flipflops and Speedo,

Eventually, you just have to jump in

And when you do, no matter how ready you are, you’ll still sputter when you swallow chlorine.

Your arms will get tired and by the end of fifteen laps you wonder how is this only halfway

Your legs will want to rest and you’ll be sick of holding your breath.

But then.

Then you’re at sixteen, eighteen, twenty

And you’re strong and lean and deliciously refreshed

When you get out the sun’s on your back

And you know you’ll come back and do it all again.

I’ve only just leaped in to this new adventure

And I’m still only on my first lap

Trying to remember where my anthropology class is

And what day they come for the recycling.

Just trying not to miss Sunday afternoons in the wine country

Trying to laugh even when I’m tired

And the joke isn’t funny.

But I’m getting there.

I’m stronger already

I’m past wishing I could put my feet down

And I’ve started to kick.

I’ve started to

Stay up late

Accept compliments

Relish long hugs.

I’ve started

To swim.

inkstained