LB Sedlacek Swimmer for Hire

LB Sedlacek __________________________________________

Swimmer for Hire

I saw a woman I used to know / and when I knew her we were kids / on the swim team. We used to / put Jell-O mix on lemons and limes / or sometimes if we didn’t have / Jell-O mix we’d use sugar . . . in-between / races at swim meets. It was for / extra energy. We used to carry the / Jell-O mix, the sugar in empty / Cool Whip containers. This was / before energy drinks and bars and / huge jolts of caffeine in tiny / aluminum cans. This was before / underwater radios or MP3 players / and underwater cameras. We rode / our bikes to the pool or to the movies / parking them on the bike racks / outside. Those bike racks are gone. / The movie theatre condemned. / The swim team disbanded.

I saw a woman I used to know. / I didn’t tell her that I don’t swim anymore.