Poolside

Poolside

Have you ever watched someone drown

Right in front of your face

While you sat on a patio

With a dozen others around?

You knew she couldn’t swim

But you watched her get in

And didn’t say a word

Because you feared to offend?

Did you watch as she stumbled

Forward like a small child

In water knee-deep

Looking reckless and wild?

And like everyone else

By the poolside that day

Did you half-heartedly protest

While you soaked up the sun

And drank pink lemonade?

When the water went over her head—

Her arms flailing—

Did you sit back and hope someone else

Would be willing

To jump in and grab her

Because the water was chilly

And you weren’t wearing

Clothes fit for swimming?

And when she choked out a plea

And the one who was closest

Looked down in disgust

From his seat by the roses

And said, “She got herself in

She can get herself free”

Did you nod your head?

Did you agree?

Even though you swim well

Did you tell yourself

That you’re not her keeper

And somebody else

Would dive in any minute

And pull her back out?

Did you think to yourself

How selfish she was

To get herself in deep water

And have to rely on another

To get up

To get wet

To get potentially dragged

Beneath the rippling surface

While she clung to your back?

And even if you thought

There was a chance that you’d win

That you’d grab her

And give her the chance to breathe in

Did you shake your dry head

And mutter within

It doesn’t matter at all

She’ll just jump in again?

So as she splashed and she gasped

As she flailed and she wailed

Did you sit back and mumble

Hollow words of no avail?

It’s okay

Keep on trying

You can do it

Keep the faith

All the while she sank deeper

Right in front of your face.

Then did you sit there and wait

Along with everybody else

And just watch

And watch

And watch

And watch

Until her legs went limp

And her arms

Stopped?

Because I did. 

7/25/25