Liferhyme: A Poem for Creative Swimmers
NOTE: After working on the re-posting of my memoir about swimming in August, the piece prompted me–inspired me–to write a poem involving swimming and a current happening in the news and in our lives. Initially, I wrote this thirty-line poem for one of my critique groups, for the critique session on August 27, 2020, which began our fifth year of monthly critique sessions. I hope you appreciate the following poem as much as my critique group did.
* * *
Liferhyme
poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
I held onto the driftwood of dreams
as long as I could.
Now, I am swimming, swimming
in the Sea of Memories–
stroke, by stroke–
like the pendulum of time–
lifetime,
liferhyme.
How pleasant are these soothing waters of yesteryear!
How fun are the waves of the past!
Stroke, stroke,
float, float, a while,
a mile, or more.
Oh, Sea of Memories–
how you do please my Hoosier heart!
Yet, I know I must find landfall.
I suppose I must find the Land of Overmorrow.
Float, float, stroke, stroke.
Is that land ahead
or a misty mirage?
Does a mirage or miracle lie before me?
Alas, I can read a sign upon the land:
“Warning! COVID 19.
Take detour.”
Backstroke, backstroke,
over,
butterfly stroke, butterfly stroke–
back to the Sea of Memories,
back to the Liferhyme
over which I have
creative control.
* * *
Take care! Stay well and creative!
Alice and Leader Dog Willow
September 9, 2020, Wednesday
alice13wordwalk 
Good Morning Allice. This poem really is so physical with the recurring motions of your body in the water – I really had the feeling of swimming myself, as I read doown through the poem. I think it was also a smart move, or a wise stroke, to reverse the direction you were swimming at the poen when you saw danger ahead. Swimming is a great metaphor here in this poem – to express inner feelings and fears. Nicely done, dear friend.
Hi, Lynda–Many thanks for your nice comment on my poem–especially when I know you are so busy with remodeling your kitchen and with working creatively and diligently on your various writing projects!
With appreciation and good wishes,
Alice and Willow
Alice, I did enjoy reading this poem–got some of the same feelings as the post above.
Hi, Sue–Good to hear from you again! I hope that all is going well for you and your extended family: I have been thinking of you and yours and hope to write more soon.
With thanks and good wishes,
Alice and Willow