Draft 013 / lifeline

The breath is held in my head
unreleased. My stomach feels glued
down and my lungs brace for something
unknown.

In the water,
every stroke draws out another breath.
Air releases in streams of bubbles
as my body glides through the blue
stroke by stroke, a rhythm
takes hold. Inhale, release.

Inhale, release.
I remember again, inhale,
release.