Swimming-step One By One For Me

• Kate Donovan, Grade 8, St Stephen's Catholic College
• Poetry
• 2009

Finalist in the 'Xtreme Read 2009' competition

The exhiliration, the rush of speed,
The mounting sense of longing-greed.
The splash of water, the end in sight
the uncomfortable tinge,the familiar bight.

The flash of arms, the whirl of feet,
that constant squeal, the thronging beat.
The gasping of breath, the movement of knees,
Swimming-step one by one for me

A breath that sees not all is lost,
you must get up there at all costs.
Then realization dawns on you,
thats them up there, those first few.

The loss of breath, the panging pain,
Hurry up or never again..