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The 500
Stretch
My neon pink
Skulls ‘n’ crossbones
Cap
Over my head
Pull tight
The bright yellow
Bungee
That straps
My goggles
To my face
Watch the clock
Grab the wall
Hit the top
Push off
Launch
Into a single
Streamline form
Feel the water
Flowing around me
For an instant
Dolphin kick
Hard
Fast
Once
Twice
Three times
Break the surface
With my arms
Pull forward
Follow the pace
Of the song
In my head
Kick
Even
And strong
500 meters
10 laps
One race
Almost to the wall
Breathe
Another stroke
Flip
Coil tightly
Spring
Take off
Pace myself
For the rest
Keep moving
Never stopping
Never ending
By the sixth lap
The water is ice
To my burning body
Keep moving
Never stopping
Never ending
Scrape my shoulder
Against the hard plastic
Laneline
The last lap
The home stretch
The most intense
Push off
Pour every ounce of power
Into my burning limbs
Sprint through the water
Faster than ever
Almost flying
Hearing mothering
But my racing heart
And the frenzied water
Powering into the wall
Ripping my goggles off
Staring at the clock
Breathing heavy
Shaking hard
Staring in disbelief
Drain a water bottle
Grab my goggles again
And take off
There is nothing
Like 500’s
In practice
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