War at the Local Pool

Fresh Finds, Poetry

War at the Local Pool

Katie Frances Hartless

fantasy, summer, water

War at the local pool:

cannonball bodies, tanned submarines

and high-dive missiles let loose.

A free-for-all kamikaze coup.

The lifeguard’s whistle cautions

a fleet of running feet,

but the heat warning screams,

“Abandon your flesh to the sun’s bruise!”

I heed the warning and leave my reclined seat

by the false, choppy sea

to dive dangerously into the deep end,

amidst an unruly army of arms and limbs

and then, a welcome escape ladder,

which I quickly ascend and

learn to drip with dignity.

Artwork: Leon Kossoff “Children’s Swimming Pool”

16 responses to “War at the Local Pool”

John

An amazing pool experience.

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1. K. F. Hartless
  
  Thank you, John. It wasn’t so glamorous in the moment. My germ radar was really going off when I saw a kid wipe his nose on a swim shirt, but it’s too hot to worry, I suppose.
  
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  1. John
    
    Pools can transfer a lotta yuckiness…
    
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  2. K. F. Hartless
    
    Yes, I’m trying not to think about it. I’ve washed it all away. 🤣
    
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  3. John
    
    Yes, like swimming in orange juice! 😂
    
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johnlmalone

what a great title and artwork; a lively, even frenetic poem, boisterous and bustling; I’ve been there, in that pool; marvellous: you’ve really brought this one off !!!

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1. K. F. Hartless
  
  Thank you, John. I forced myself to stop messing around with this website and go for a swim. Man, it was a wild afternoon swim.
  
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  1. johnlmalone
    
    you conveyed it real well 🙂
    
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mywords2228

Great piece!

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1. K. F. Hartless
  
  Thank you. I was lucky to survive this afternoon, really. 😉
  
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Priti

Beautiful lines 👍

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Tom

Loved this 🙂 Glad you had such a fun afternoon!

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1. K. F. Hartless
  
  It was good to let the chlorine clear my screen eyes. 😂
  
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Sketchuniverse

Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
🩱HI SISTERS! WOULD YOU LIKE A POOL BATH?
MAYBE THIS IS A CRAZY IDEA, BUT THIS IS A GOOD AND ORIGINAL WORK.

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Karima Hoisan

Kate, I really enjoyed your description of public pool guerilla warfare..so clever!!

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1. K.F. Hartless
  
  Thank you, Karima. The war wages on here.
  
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