Swimming

Monsters in some respects
My parents gave us great freedom
To write our own lives
Our ink all the beauty
Of those endless childhood summers
Riding bikes down to the Pilchuck
To swim in that deep hole
Beneath the bridge
Swing whooping as high as possible
On the rope tied from timbers
High school boys driving out
In their first cars, climbing
To stand as glistening gods
Atop the bridge superstructure, leaping
To impress girlfriends

Do you remember darling
Those long, long days at Flowing Lake
Not there to swim at all
Nonetheless once an hour diving in
Shortly to return to blanket, magazines
My little transistor radio all day
Tuned to rock and roll
I would run my fingers through
Your long wet locks, pull you in
To linger upon your salted lips
I had never known life could hurt with hope
Each day my heart broke again
When twilight fell into your hair
Into your eyes
And I had to drive you home

So many aches of the heart
Not until falling for you
Did I realize I had never known
A family
So graciously, with such love
You all took me in
Brian, Robert, Lisa, your mother
My mother
I ache with the memories
Of those hot, dust dry trips
Over the mountains
Of the deep ache of swimming a few minutes
In the rushing rapids of the Chiwawah
Daughter of melting Cascade Mountain ice fields
Then the roaring fires of our nights
So hot pine roots were set smoldering
We had to water the soil
Your mother refused your sleeping
Outside with us
How I ached seeing a thousand stars
And wishing to pull down
From the icy night
One hundred to place around your crown

Our second summer
Cranked on speed
With those aging hippies
We drove deep into the woods
To Lost Lake
To the ancient dock they had to rebuild
After burning it down when
Higher than the moon on acid
Skinny dipping, tribal
We swam to the little island and
Made love
God I loved you then

I never swam again

Reviews

[redd Brick Keshner]

Oh those days seemed endless and indistinguishable as to where one ended and another began. And that went on for several years until job and age and adulting took over🙏🏻🕊️

[Michael Sun Bear]

Exactly! Thanks for reading.

[redd Brick Keshner]

Most welcome, friend 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Rosie C]

This brings back many memories from childhood.

I too spent most of it outside at the park with my grandparents.

There was some dark times as well due to difficult family members who wasn’t suitable to be around.

Things happen, and unfortunately we can’t choose the family that we are born into.

A pleasant read, a much needed escape from the reality of adulthood.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you Rosie both for reading and for the thoughtful response.

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. Sharp and vivid. Excellent.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thanks Thomas

[Chris Shaw]

I was fortunate there were no monsters at home. Your poem reminded me just how much freedom we had as children and how restricted youngsters are these days. A fine nostalgic piece here Michael which brought some memories of my own to the fore.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thanks Chris. I’ve reached an age where nostalgia for the past is very prevalent.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you Jim, I appreciate your reading my stuff. So you identified strongly with the first line. It was odd for me. On the one hand we were given so much freedom but in and around the home my father ruled with an iron fist. He was a scary man.

[Desert Knave]

We were okay when we kept our mouths shut and knew our places.

[Desert Knave]

I love this poem, but have to admit, I identify with the first line about "monsters in some respect" more than a little. Anyhow, as always, great story-telling. ~Jim