#cooling off

Leo Nowak, Summer Day, 1940. Watercolor, charcoal, conté crayon and pencil on paperboard.

I am happiest in the water.

I have felt that way since childhood.

It has unfortunately been awhile

since I had last swam.

I walked up the steps of the

wooden deck that connects

to my parents above ground pool.

I look at the roof of the garage

and eye the green lawn chair.

I could easily climb up

and sit on the edge.

My inner child wants to read up there,

while her long legs dangle.

I dismiss the thought immediately.

Not only would Dad be upset,

but the shingles would scrape my exposed skin.

No need to scare him.

I set my towel down on the outdoor table, counted to three, and jumped

into the cool water.

The rush of water was welcome

on such a hot day.

I get to swim and float.

For my duration in the pool,

I get to be weightless.

I can backflip and front flip;

do things I can't do on land.

I get water in my ears

and go right back under

after I get it out.

I plop ass first onto a pool float-

(multiple times)

shrieking when i inevitably miss

or roll off of the side.

I plug my nose just like I did

when I was eight.

I rapidly swim back to the surface.

The pool isn't that deep,

but I am reminded that my lungs

are not as good as they used to be.

My brain momentarily panics

when I cannot breathe.

An out of shape smoker,

in love with the flow of the water.

I don't ever want to get out -

it can cradle me all day.

Jump in and splash about.

Do you want to play mermaids?

Written by AprilFool 🐸