Swimming Lessons Poem by Diana Holinski

I never realized
I was drowning
Until your voice
Coached me to the shore

When you saw me struggling
In the choppy water
You didn’t toss me a line
“Courage, ” you told me

You used your words
To bring me strength

And I flailed and thrashed
With aching side
Fighting the waves
Determined to swallow me

But you didn’t pull me out
“Endure, ” you called out
And I swam

You used your soul
To coach me to the shore