the long distance swimmer

arm over arm
you swim and swim.
you kick your legs
turning your head side
to side
to breathe.
the salt and cold
of the waves
roll over you.
this takes the measure
of who you
are or thought you
might be.
there is no land
visible
in any direction.
there is little you
can do,
but swim, and swim
and swim
under a cold moon,
under a hot sun.
you do all that you can
do
to not slip under
and succumb
to the world you've
been born into.