(for Barbara in Lane #2)
I am the visiting one who has flown in
and landed with a gentle whoosh
in this five-lane pond, one who
some might perceive as an interloper,
one who might need to be chased
off by other floating fowl who
think of this bit of liquid as theirs.
But here, this kind one bobbing
in her familiar spot welcomes me,
the out-of-towner, slipping into
the blue of an early morning.
I feel my body incline into
weightlessness again and lean
into the aqueous arms that hold me,
that support us all like a longtime,
unseen friend.
•••
Thanks to Barbara in Lane #2 and Terri in Lane #3
for including me in their early morning Shadow HIlls
lap pool swims.
Güd wrtr 
I thought you might enjoy this:
SWIMMING LAPS
I hope it’s not cold today
but with no body fat, it’s always cold
splash…arggh!
okay, the worst is over
I’ll get warmer with each lap
pull glide
pull glide
there’s not a lot you can say about swimming laps
the scenery doesn’t change
the high point is flipping
over and
going back
I use mnemonic devices to count:
one and done
two for you
three for free
four on the floor
even so I still lose track sometimes
I aspire to a half mile but don’t always
get there
five no jive
I switch to the elementary
backstroke I learned in Boy Scout camp,
and boy was that lake cold!
six tricks
the lifeguards sit like herons on a log,
checking their cell phones,
trying not to look bored
seven eleven
one is a red-haired high school girl
is it true what they say about
redheads?
eight at the gate
I like to swim alone
when it’s quiet
nine, so fine
when I first moved in they played
music
anything from classical to the Doors
backstroke to Beethoven
dog paddle to the Doors
Ten-Ren
I’ll explain that one:
I used to shop for ginseng at the Ten-Ren Tea Company
in Chinatown
11th hour
okay I’ll explain that also:
it’s the final hour of hospice work,
too late for a pardon but a final chance for
redemption
12th house
secretive, self undoing,
and the deep unconscious in astrology
I was born there
13 signs
that’s from the poem I submitted
they edited it down to three signs
14 Ducks
there must be 100 rubber ducks on
the pool deck,
some wear quarantine masks
15 fives
no explanation
sweet 16
no, not Chuck Berry but March Madness,
the basketball tournament
1776
no explanation needed
18 to vote,
or maybe it’s 21?
1947
the year I was born
India became independent
and the Diary of Anne Frank was published
20
I don’t need any more devices
I’m in the zone now and just
cruise the last few laps
then the big reward –
a dip in the hot tub
to warm up
This is great, Charles! Thanks so much for sending it. Is it yours? I’d love to keep a copy with the proper credit on it. I am so with the narrator with the hot tub reward at the end!
And, if you’re the same Seattle area poet who wrote the lovely poem “Temple of Love” about sitting with a dying woman in the hospital… I want to convey how much I admire that poem and the work of the No One Dies Alone program at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Thank you! Yes I wrote it, yr welcome to keep it or use as you like.
charles kasler
—
Thank you, Charles!
Jan