on aging and happiness (in a swimming pool)

it's nice to know
that as we age
this anxiety will fall away
our terseness will push us over

(we can momentarily watch this from the lifeguard's chair, at the neighborhood pool in the heat of summer, wilted vines crawling up the chain-link fences)

men and women toppling off the diving boards
bodies, frame by frame, aging into wrinkled shells
falling into one elegant splash
creating ripples of happiness
that casually push the group along
swimmers slowly liberated from the congestion of acquaintances
faithful companions doggy paddle side by side
long strokes towards the shallow end
and the stairs to climb up and out
shamelessly displaying aged bodies
sagely glancing back at the deep end
the youthful thrill of not being able to touch the bottom
replaced by the confidence
of feet on the ground.