SWIMMING UNDER THE OVERHEAD FIXTURE

      in measured strokes   the crawl

right arm   then the left    head and backbone

aligned    head-pivot

synchronizing   drawn-back elbows

first one up   a piston

breathing in

breathing out

then the other

all along the long hallway

two feet below

the stained plaster ceiling

no windows

fingertips glancing against

the overhead fixture’s

bevelled-glass rim

feet flutter-kicking   toes

grazing the wallpaper once

once kicking a framed watercolour

right off its nail

the end-stop  faraway door

unopened    maybe sealed

each stroke defying

the unfluid laws of aerodynamics

the air    warm and unwet

somehow buoys the methodical flight

arms tire then

a careful stroke-switch to the breast

head down   legs frogged

and push   push again

the continuous risk of the height

a thin carpet runner on the far-below floor

headroom capped   cobwebs

and the small distant door

still unopened    unmoved