Watching my daughter swim.

By the time I hear Go!

she is already gone,

into the water,

which closes around her,

welcomes her in.

Released, at last,

yards down her lane,

she is changed.

In her element, flowing,

so practised it seems effortless,

natural, both girl and seal,

a new creature, beyond me.

She makes her kick-turn,

nails it with precision, economy,

nothing wasted,

powers back,

trailing silver, spiralled air,

leaving me in her wake,

awestruck, wondering

how to stop time.

Published by colinhopkirk

Poet, writer, artist. Writing and performing in England, publishing anywhere. Member of Hexameter performing poets. Workshops, projects, cross-arts collaborations.

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