This is a poem I wrote over Winter Break, and I decided I would like to share with all of you. Again, the structure may be a bit messed up but nonetheless,

Enjoy.

Lifeguard On Duty

Splash splash go his arms

as he pulls himself deeper into the pool,

away from the grassy edge.

The dark transparent surface mirrors

the overcoat of night.

Twinkle twinkle go the stars in his eyes, observing the stationary wishes laid before.

Backstroke towards the center,

the lifeguard,

alone

cold

wet.

The punchbowl belches its foamy saliva into the deepening

pool below.

It quietly roars, plummets and screams.

The screams.

The pool’s green edges are markers.

He dives in

and barracudas

towards the other end,

hoping to be faster or

fast enough

to save his own personal record.

Seconds drip away and 2:34:04

wasn’t fast enough.

Neither was 2:31:73.

The screams of water plunging into the glass surface

his white-plus-on-red shirt turns into the water.

Shivering eyes scan the pool floor,

dead

empty

black

searching for justification that no longer breathes.

The blinding rays of day chlorinate

his pay.

12 hours later lifeguard duty continues.

Toddlers in the deep end,

not a danger but instead

redemption.

Nervous splashes and sitting on tense shoulders and neurotic running and edgy horseplay

draw out sweat.

He scans the pool once,

then again

and again

and again

and again

to make sure that all swimmers are

buoyant.

Playful cheers mock,

and Unpopular resides on his nametag.

No one likes to be whistled at every 3 minutes

by a calm facade.

Gasps of air flood his ears

as he treads

reminiscing of the threads that snapped on lifeguard duty.

Physically drained, he lays on his back

eyes closed

cold dark water all around.

But he knows better

than to sleep here in the pool

since this bed is already taken by the fish, algae and his brother

who are all roommates.