she tells me she can't swim
"we can't all be mr. athletic" she says
"but you're a ballerina, that's the peak of athleticism" i say
so i tell her i'll teach her
but she's scared, it's splashed all over her face
her pupils are dilated, her hand shakes
she can't swim because she fears drowning
but if she learns how to swim, she won't have to fear drowning
because as long as she can keep her head above water
she'll be okay
the water isn't as rough as usual
it's calm and a little cold
her teeth chatter but not from a chill
and i show her how to stay afloat
and how to swim
she gets it okay and can do it decently
but her fear is clouding and clenching her muscles
"relax" i tell her
i back away a little bit
to give her some room
(but not too far where i can't get her
if i need to)
"i can't do it" she says
and she starts to sink
but i'm there to catch her
she's crying now
but i hold her tight
and tell her she'll be okay
she clings desperately to me
"you can stand up now" i say
"your feet can touch the bottom"
but she doesn't stand up
she just clings to me
like i'm the only safe thing in the world
and she tells me why she fears the ocean
and it's not just because she refuses to swim
YOU ARE READING
BURN (Wattys2015?)
Poetry"Poetry...is thoughts that breathe and words that burn."--Thomas Gray "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash." --Leonard Cohen Poems on the tough stuff in life. Poems on the crazy good stuff in li...
