Sunrise and cold
Limbs exposed
Wade out
Water at waist
Head under
Plunge.
Strike out
Stroke
Fill lungs
Stroke
Eyes forward
Stroke
Don't stop
Stroke.
Waves splash
Arms burn
Heart pounds
Only sounds
My breath
Rasp.
Legs kick
Stroke
Don't stop
Stroke
Breath in
Stroke
Land ho
Stroke.
Feet on sand
Body spent
Hands on rungs
Emerge wet
Baptized again
Alive.
