Grace and grit meet
At water’s edge
Each athlete perched
On starting block
Anxious
Focused
Waiting
Until signal
Sounds
Start
Off the blocks
They bound
Bursting
Splashing
Water
Breaking
Tension tight
Muscles coiling
Stretching
Finding rhythmic
Pacing
Each stroke splashing
Chasing split
Second records
Each swimmer
Hopes
To break
Heavy breaths
At halfway mark
Hearts pounding
Counting every second
Every stroke
Inching closer
Closer
Flipping
Turning
Pushing
Off wall
Streamlined urgency
Rolling
Slicing
Streamlined
Strokes
Final lap
Screaming limbs
Endure
Obey
Outstretched arm
Reaching
Reaching
Barely beating
Other athletes
To the wall
Gasping
Heaving
Heart-pounding
Joy
And grief
Limbs heavy
Yet light
Relief
And rush
Floating
And soaking
In the cheers
At the end
Of the race
