Endless Swim

Written for and about my momma in the last few weeks of her being earth side. October 13th, 2023 marks a whole year without her physical presence. I came to finish this piece two weeks after her passing and felt ready to share with you all here today. So thank you for taking the time. x Annabel

It was the type of day you dream about on cold winter nights. The water still. As clear as a perfectly shined crystal in the light. The sun glistened off the surface, piercing through and gliding along the bottom. Creating circles of bright, mesmerizing rainbows. Making you forget about the life above. The ripples of sand stood tall and strong. But crumble the moment they’re disturbed. Sitting at the bottom. Surrounded by nothing but the hills, valleys and craters of light, flowing sand brought the type of peace only found here. Where there are no sounds. No disturbances to bring unwanted chaos. There’s only time for that above the surface. 

The sun, full of power and grace, gently struck her rays through all the stress, clutter and mayhem above to meet comfortably, on the bottom floor. It was afternoon. She sat high in the sky, making all who rest on land feel wrapped around in the warmest blanket of love. That gentle touch from her could be felt not just laying on the beach covered in soft windswept sand but woven through the effortlessly calm lake. Her beams of tender comfort gleamed, coming down through the top of the surface to strike anywhere. As the water dances gently around, and her rays twinkle, there isn’t any but a peaceful moment. So serene it feels as though a breath could be taken. Along the high ridge lines of irredentist small grains of sand, she followed. Those same ridge lines were almost an exact line of what the white wispy clouds left trailing in the sky above. Letting themselves linger and shift with the atmosphere, though not getting in the way of the glorious fiery sphere that sat upright just next to them. 

The sun made sure there wasn’t a goosebump to be found. Always keeping the soft skin balmy, leaving a gentle color in memory of her presence. 

Where the water ebb and flowed around in tender swirls, wrapping each limb. Holding, caring and comforting. Feeling weightless, yet letting there be space on the lake floor to hold in embrace. 

Sweet particles of algae and settling soft sand whisped past in an unconfined drift. The sand laid itself back where they came from, perfectly on top of one of their many peaks. As the algae continued on its journey, dropping low, teasing the sand-bed, then whisking back towards the surface. Taking a moment to twirl and dance with another. Almost as if there was a light breeze whirling around under the water mimicking a light touch of music. 

Light brown strands of hair floated around to enjoy the music of the water as well. They pranced and spun with every turn of the head as if they had a mind of their own. Wanting to be like the algae and glide away with the forgiving current. Like sweet pirouettes, each string of hair embraced with another, getting all the more tangled but all the more wrapped in love. 

Breaking through the surface, a deep inhale of soft air, and the mellow blue sky perched above with the warmth caress of the sunshine. As always, the water held its weight on the surface, grasping ever so gently at the nape of the neck to let all worries fade away. Holding in a lovers embrace, for the fear of letting go may not bring another day as this. The sweet sun slowly began her descend towards the horizon as the water and her current kindly drifted back to the pleasantly toasty sand. She greeted the shoreline with sweet simple kisses as if she was breathing. Inhaling as she came onto shore and exhaling as she pulled herself back into Lake Michigan.