Last Swim of the Summer

heat rises in wrinkled waves here,

beside the pool, as I lay cheek to concrete,

draining the liquid from my ears,

but still the sound is blurred because

I am listening to life through a tin can

            of ever rattling ruminations.

 

there is poetry in the short breaks

between laughter and splashing water,

tangled lines running invisible as filament

between kicking legs and flailing arms,

and I feel the eyes of a man watching me

as I work things out inside my head, but

I know he cares more for the curve of my hips

            than the turn of my phrases.

 

it is impossible to be completely content

(I have decided) when the world is brimming

with images and metaphors begging to be written,

like babies crying behind hospital windows

-- tagged and labeled, but not yet claimed --

and I am a mother searching for that one face,

trying to pretend that I know my own flesh,

(because it is expected) when the truth is

no one truly knows a thing without first

            holding it in their hands. 

Reviews

[David Scott]

Very introspective poem.
I see the mind needing to be explored further.
The search is the point. The labyrinth is not obstacle to finding your soul hidden in some sacred chamber. The soul is found in every twist and turn, every breeze and intuition, every eye we see observing and those we do not... How do we hold the passing moments in our hands to examine and diagnose the condition of who we are within these moments.
One day we may be lucky enough to find a soul mate who reflects back to us some of who we are. Then while holding our soul mate we understand better what it might feel like to hold ourselves...

Well, I'm rambling now. Sorry, got me thinking.
You wrote something I wanted to explore or just had to. Ha.
Great write as usual. You are talented!

[K. Louis]

I completely agree here with David...and Sarah great write.

[Cerise]

Just yesterday i was thinking of a poem i read on self introspection....believe me ita a wonderful write...its phenomenal....i wish we all had it in ourselves to take time and look around us...To take time to see what we are doing with our lives.....very well written..Good work

[Emily B]

someday, I want to be half the poet that you are

you always amaze me

[Astro]

There's something to be said about setting and it's inspirational qualities, whether they blow in the wind like silken spiderwebs caught between two moments, or pull you into them until you are so immersed that the pure knowledge of them can be understood fully through feeling and delight. Some nice snippets of alliteration and simile transcribe your personal understanding of this fact. Words as children, writers as parents or perhaps to some, even gods. Building worlds, and making the unseen seen. This one is refreshing, like a pool on burning skin.

[Lydia Shutter]

The wisdom of your introspective words in this one blows me away, Sarah! I have often said I don't think I ever truly relax because I am always observing the situation I am in and assessing how it will sound in a poem. Indeed, the man watching you poolside is not interested in your metaphors and perhaps he is better off....still, as a poet, you must hear the "poetry in the short breaks". I think you know yourself very well, my friend. It shows in the quality of your poetry. Excellent. Lydi**

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Lydi, for really seeing into this one!

[quinfinn]

your poetry is still stunning and resonant, but even moreso than when i last viewed your writing...it is good to see there are still some humble and magnificent poets here. this is what keeps me coming back to w/c time after time. i know now, that i will never completely abandon this place. great to see you in such fine form.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Quinn...good to see you!

[Dana Alsamsam]

ah i absolutely love this! reflects on poets occasional inability to live without trying to capture every bit of poetry in every moment. often when we cannot capture these moments the only result is frustration and all too often the people that we surround ourselves with do not appreciate our reason for being observers. i particularly enjoyed these lines:
"but still the sound is blurred because
I am listening to life through a tin can
of ever rattling ruminations."
we're all thinking. always thinking....

i apologize for my long absence but i'm excited to be back and reading your work :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much for stopping by, Dana! I look forward to having you back around, as well...I've missed your work :)

[Joyce S. Greene]

Those images do sometimes cry out, begging to be written with tender loving care, Sarah. Those are the times to cherish for when those babies sleep and you can't wake them up, that's when you suffer. I enjoyed your poem very much.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Joyce.

[Einstein Noodle]

this is so pleasant; i feel calm and content and excited just enough by the curves ; ) your poem brought me back to a much younger age when i would think nothing of laying down on the hot concrete, cheek pressed and ruminations whisking me away... i love this poem!
E.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, dear friend!

[KAin]

"...it is impossible to be completely content
(I have decided) when the world is brimming
with images and metaphors begging to be written..."

So true. There's a lot to like in this poem, but those lines alone stood out for me more than anything.
I particularly liked the (I have decided) - the assertion of agency - of a particular power that seems to be the one magnetic aspect of writing that draws all those who dare to pick up a pen and lay themselves on paper.

Excellent work, as always.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Landred!

[asdarkeyesclose]

'trying to pretend that I know my own flesh,'

very powerful. the more i read of you the more i respect what you can do with a pen. i liked how this was not really about swimming at all but about writing, about a desire so strong and a love of words even stronger. some poets never write a real word of poetry in their lives but you are the opposite the poetry just seems to flow out. fantastic.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much...I'm glad you really "saw" this one :)