First Swimming Lessons
I swim inside her
Stretching, then floating
In liquid-space
Bouncing off rubber walls
Careering into cavernous flesh
Performing double somersaults with ease
As the days pass
I become constricted
Snug
Warm
Enfolded
My feather-heart beats gently
My toenails sprout
I want to stay here forever
Then it gets intense
Pressure from all sides
Something is pushing hard
I have no choice
But to hang on
Time to exit – into what?
Suddenly – no more water
The push of air in my throat
The dead bump of dry land
No one holds me anymore
I am let loose in the world
To swim against the tide
by my friend
Peter Barratt
