the Swimmer

the Swimmer

the spry poet

did metaphorical backflips

even at three-quarters 

of a century in age

ran a sonnet mile

in two minutes flat

swam laps in a pool

of lyrics

with enough breath

to hold iambic pentameter

in swirls of chlorine conception

but contended that free style

gave him the free-verse stamina

to write all day

in strokes of meaning

that make it worthwhile 

and preferable

to swim outside boundaries

in a lake of endless content.

erin-cilberto

8/5/25 

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

That poet is pretty agile for his age. Knows his poetry inside out and has rightly concluded that there is freedom in free verse. So true, not penned in by rhyme or meter. I admire the metaphors here j. This poem brought a smile. I loved the back flips especially. As for the sea of content, do we ever feel content with our own work? I know I never do.

We are all swimmers, who dabble in the sea of poetry. Best we all float and don’t drown lol.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, Chris, you are so right. I usually like about 1 out of 20 poems I write. If others like them and get something from them, then I feel some success...but it is hard for us to be satisfied with our own work, I think. I was thinking of John Cheever when I wrote this poem, thus I gave it his title...
j.

[Ayesha Faiz]

This poem really made me smile! it’s so full of energy and creativity. The way you compared writing poetry to swimming and running.... it feels so relatable, like the poet is pushing limits but having fun doing it. The metaphors are clever without trying too hard, and the message about finding freedom in free verse really hits home. It reminds me how art can keep us feeling alive, no matter our age. Writing free verse poem is kinda hard for me but you make it look so easy... I mean, must be easy for you too since you're experienced in it. You write soo well !
Thank you for writing and sharing such a wonderful piece.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your very kind review, Ayesha.
j.

[DIVYA]

This poem is beautiful in its metaphor usage. I love the metaphorical backflips and the pool of lyrics. Free verse gives endless possibilities to create.
And to rise on a sea of content is so difficult, these days. Everyone with the ability to put together two lines is a writer/poet/bloggist.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your words, my friend.
j.

[Desert Knave]

Excellent. I guess I am a few years away from finding the free verse end of the pool something I can brave, but I do love swimming in words. ~Jim

[jacob erin-cilberto]

And you swim quite well, my friend.
j.

[Buddhistboy73]

The swimmer indeed...:)

This is a great mix of swimming and humanity...a man checking out his boundaries against a swimming pool.....

Writing can be like swimming #i guess........you capture the fun of a different style of writing here ...


worthwhile and preferable
to swim outside boundaries
in a lake of endless content....

Thanks for sharing ..

BB73

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, BB73.