This is What I Learned About Swimming: Sally Paton

April 3, 2020 Kate Belew with Sally Paton (New York City)

A blue so tilted it shocked the sky

nothing could distract from it.

Not even kaleidoscope of neighborhood

pipes, windows, shingles, spires

but only seen through this window

porthole to pale blue pools 

and the way this breaks like wave

parting as it meets my body.

Listen, this is what I learned about swimming

in sundry bodies.

I learned that in order to stay towards surface

your chest must be very full
of things very light, gleaming.