i trained her well.
behind kickboards, at
first.
splashing. exuberant. fresh.
daily practice. a
little further.
more.
then, trips from
the edge.
cautious return. gaining
confidence.
never far from safe.
then, diving
under.
inhale and surface.
growing in conviction.
finally,
in long strokes. flooding
the senses.
out stretched arm, pulling
thru papered
immersion.
no
more fear.
no
disbelief.
nothing
held back.
this poem can
swim.
