Late summer swim in Mountain Lake

She stumbled

Nearly fell to the sand

The short steps failing her

Even those so carefully taken

Practiced, measured

Increasingly unreliable steps

Step, step, stop

Her toes, ankles, shins

Knees into the water slowly

Swim cap settled

Helmeted, inexorable

When the water meets her waist

She springs

An arms-extended glide

So smooth she could have been an otter

A sister spirit returning

Slicing through

Joining

The sun-warmed surface cream that carries her

As it always has

As it always will

August 10, 2012