Monday, February 17, 2014

Nightswimming (R.E.M.)

I swim at night resting on my side
left hand to my right shoulder, right to my left
perfectly straight I glide my legs smoothly up to my head
I see myself walking on a village street
houses on my left, rocky waterfront on my right
I know this place

I think I know this place as an amalgam of two:
mountains of NC or hills of the Finger Lakes
the end is before me and I turn back
Jack is waiting for me with the car
Safely parked and glad that I took this road
I feel proud and brave

He makes me feel proud and brave
emboldened I venture out again further around
the sidewalk is broken and chipped away by the lake
soon I am swimming to reach the village
and there I climb out to see a market or café
and Jack is there with someone else known to me

And there he is smiling with someone known to us
I trudge back wet but not minding so much
these night time swims are largely struggles
I must be working something out as I
pull my knees in to my chest, curl my toes
and rest upon my other side, waiting for tomorrow.