Scenes from the Pool

Hot tub I:
Three young Mexican men
hanging out, talking about work
and girls, their thin white T-shirts
translucent against their lean chests

Swimming Laps:
Two women and one man
swimming from end to end
in a dreamy slow motion of
synchronized dancing in
three keys; backstroke, breaststroke
and free style.

A heavy set man receiving lessons
on scuba diving from an instructor.
He struggles to keep his balance
dressed in scuba tank, meters,
wet suit, flippers, mask and snorkel.

Hot tub II:
It is quiet. I turn on the jets.
A sharply dressed young man
sits nearby in his wheelchair,
facing the hot tub.
His head is slightly cock-eyed
and his tongue does not quite
fit in his mouth.
He looks peaceful and alert.
I wonder why he is alone.
A woman walks up to him,
touches him, talks to him,
gently moves his head to a
vertical position.
She picks up his
arms which have been laying
there motionless and moves
them back and forth and up
and down, in rhythm with
her voice.
I cannot see her face but I know
she is smiling at him and
loving him.
She backs away and I see
him smile at her, the kind of
smile that says he loves her
and appreciates her from
the depth of his soul.
After a few moments,
the effort seems to exhaust him
and his head droops a bit,
his face relaxes into a quiet
attentiveness.
I am deeply moved.