Relay

(Awarded Honorable Mention, Canadian Authors Association National Capital Branch, National Writing Contest, Poetry category. 2017.)

Summer 2016:
Olympic games in Rio and
I am struck by the
Hand-offs and the handing over.
Of course
The baton in track and field
And
The 4-by-100 team swim
But also
The old guard naming the new guard
Usain Bolt about Andre De Grasse:
“He’ll be the next fastest man.”

In Olympic competition
There is always faster, higher, farther.

Summer 2016:
I feel the pool’s edge against my fingertips
Breathless
My lap complete
I am instantly shadowed by my sons diving over me.
They butterfly away
Take their lap.
On the far end of the pool, the next swimmers
Tense
On toes
Wait for the instant my boys touch the edge.

In families
There is always a breathlessly fast swim towards the new guard.