Standing at the edge,
a chlorine-filled breeze kissing my face,
my toes move like jumping beans in and out of the icy water.Plastic green goggles on my head,
steam exiting from my mouth,
I bent to make the deep blue plunge.
He was yelling, “On your mark, get set,
GO!” and like a bullet
I left that prickly, steel block.
Watery walls were crashing all around me,
and my body was gasping from its punches,
but my arms became like propellers.
The crowd sang their praise,
but to ears that were deaf,
and eyes that were peeled to the concrete wall.
Gasping for air,
and closing before water tried to intrude,
I was gliding like a torpedo.
Fighting numb fingers,
and sore knee joints,
I listen to the orchestra of my heart.
Concrete brushes my fingertips,
and air is all I want,
as I heave and tense from exhaustion.
Ripping a plastic helmet off,
and washing away jitters,
once again I am kissed by icy air.
My muscles ache as water
drips into puddles on the ground,
and Goosebumps consume my arms,
as I am wrapping myself in this ruby towel.
Not first,
but not last,
my lips curl from cheek to cheek.