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.
