A still pool skin spreads over the depths
Step (climb) Step (climb) Step
Poised at the end,
Toetips curled over the edge of scratchy sandboard.

Eyes close, lungs expand in
Anticipation of clear cool chlorine
And with bounce, step forward, breeze



[squellll!]

Handsfirst suctioned down
Semisolid swimmer’s surface seams





s
m
o
o
t
h
.

Arching upward, swim to a slow
claw-handed. Suspended in midsubstance
Little tinkling warning bells
Warble through the wiggle.

Reduced to less than a mandarin orange
In a summer sea of heavy gel.
All is silent, all is lime
And the wriggling green giggles on.