Slipping, sliding, falling
Enveloped into the coolness
embracing the deep blue of inner thought
the cold slowly penetrating
My Body will not listen
to the insistences of wanting to get out
REFUSAL
every minute hair on my person
standing tall and at attention

br     eak          in  g
the surface
filling the lungs with air
hands slipping in and out
methodically with the breathing
almost being lulled to sleep by
the air escaping through my nose
only here am I welcome
Welcome to this Other World...

pause

floating, waiting, hovering in anticipation
flip/pilf
push                          off
s      t      r      e      a      m      l      i      n      e

bursting out of the surface again
speeding toward the end
so close
so close
so close
must go on further
hand exploding into the water
a mass of bubbles follows
the fleshy rock stars

strokestrokestrokestroke gasp strokestroke...

almost there
so close
my fingertips find the wall
in blind desperation
around turn
The scoreboard
GLARES
LANE 1              1.13              1
First place. record time. all time high
a small smile
pantpantpantpant
Victory.